<p>The Leafs are back in Toronto and back on the ice for a full practice in advance of Game 5 tomorrow night when they hope to eliminate the Lightning. The biggest story coming into this practice was whether or not Michael Bunting would find his way back into the lineup on Thursday. And as of right now the Magic Eightball is saying &#8220;Outlook not so good.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keefe on message to Bunting: The message was that he will get back in, just not tomorrow.</p>
<p>&mdash; David Alter (@dalter) <a href="https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651275818499293187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Bunting is eligible to return from suspension in Game 5, but based on practice he projects to be a healthy scratch for the first time as a Leaf <a href="https://twitter.com/TSN_Edge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSN_Edge</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Mark Masters (@markhmasters) <a href="https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1651260765318283264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>So there is a lot going on with the Bunting situation and we&#8217;ll talk about that before getting into the Leafs lines.</p>
<p>The decision to scratch Bunting seems to be a popular one and frankly there was a pretty tough March and April stretch that already had some people questioning how valuable Bunting was to the Leafs and to the top six. Personally, that&#8217;s what I&#8217;d hope for because as much as the Leafs have won there are a couple of things to consider. First, the Leafs were badly outplayed for the majority of the last couple of games and heavily relied on the top six willing the Leafs back into the game. And there is also the consideration that needs to be given to Bunting being a better option than Aston-Reese or Lafferty from a skill perspective.</p>
<p>Arguments about Bunting&#8217;s lack of discipline are really based on recency bias and while he isn&#8217;t the favourite player of NHL officials keeping him out in favour of fourth line forwards that are equally capable of undisciplined moments when outmatched seems a little strange. If Toronto had been dominant in their wins this decision would make more sense, but seems like Keefe might be overthinking this one.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-92033" src="https://i0.wp.com/publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/buntingkniessimpsonvacation.png?resize=712%2C536&#038;ssl=1" alt="" width="712" height="536" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/buntingkniessimpsonvacation.png?w=712&amp;ssl=1 712w, https://i0.wp.com/publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/buntingkniessimpsonvacation.png?resize=300%2C226&amp;ssl=1 300w" sizes="(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></p>
<p>As for Knies, he&#8217;s certainly benefited from Bunting&#8217;s departure, and now looks like he could be starting in the Leafs top six. Knies might still be adjusting to the NHL but he is a step ahead of others when it comes to defensive zone play and with Keefe finally flipping Nylander and Marner around, Marner gives Toronto another defensively capable forward on the Tavares line that will hopefully click.</p>
<p>Nylander and Jarnkrok with Matthews seem like a no brainer as well after the final period and overtime against Tampa in Game 4.</p>
<p>Alex Kerfoot finds himself relocated to the 3rd line and this is honestly where I&#8217;ve always wanted to see him. There are elements of Kerfoot&#8217;s game that are very similar to O&#8217;Reilly&#8217;s frequent St. Louis linemate, David Perron, and the third line is being upgraded in the neutral zone while not trading off much offensively.</p>
<p>The fourth line, for now, looks to remain intact, but they are under the microscope as Keefe is still making a decision on who comes out for Bunting in ideally the second round, but possibly Game Six.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Michael Bunting: “My job is to be a good teammate in all aspects. That’s what I’m going to keep doing, and I’ll wait for my number to be called.”</p>
<p>Adds he texted Erik Cernak after Game 1.</p>
<p>&mdash; Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1651272976828973080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2>Injury Updates</h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Matt Murray is indeed on the ice. But not with the main group. On a separate pad.</p>
<p>&mdash; David Alter (@dalter) <a href="https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651255759374544904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Matt Murray wasn&#8217;t part of the Leafs full practice so we are still living in the Joseph Woll backup world for the time being. That isn&#8217;t something that bothers me at all and while Samsonov did leave the practice early, that isn&#8217;t out of the ordinary so don&#8217;t freakout about that.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mete joins the main session of practice as well.</p>
<p>&mdash; David Alter (@dalter) <a href="https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651254943771160582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Victor Mete was in the Leafs full practice, skating on Toronto&#8217;s fifth pairing with Conor Timmins. Mete&#8217;s availability doesn&#8217;t change much for the Leafs but it&#8217;s good for him to be back on the ice.</p>
<h2>Lightning Lines:</h2>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBolts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBolts</a> practice lines today before flying out to Toronto for Game 5:</p>
<p>Stamkos-Point-Kucherov<br />Hagel-Cirelli-Killorn<br />Colton-Paul-Jeannot<br />Maroon-Bellemare-Perry<br />Eyssimont drawing in</p>
<p>Hedman-Perbix<br />Sergachev-Raddysh<br />Cole-Bogosian<br />Fleury drawing in</p>
<p>&mdash; Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) <a href="https://twitter.com/EddieInTheYard/status/1651235153929273346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The Lightning seem to be looking to overload their top line and trust the rest of their forwards to be sour pains in the ass for Toronto the rest of the way through. It will be interesting to see if the Leafs&#8217; third line which recently received a defensive upgrade in Kerfoot, along with the McCabe-Brodie pairing will be stapled to that unit with Toronto having the last change or whether Sheldon Keefe has become more comfortable in dictating the pace when he can.</p>


The Leafs are back in Toronto and back on the ice for a full practice in advance of Game 5 tomorrow night when they hope to eliminate the Lightning. The biggest story coming into this practice was whether or not Michael Bunting would find his way back into the lineup on Thursday. And as of right now the Magic Eightball is saying "Outlook not so good."

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651275818499293187

https://twitter.com/markhmasters/status/1651260765318283264

So there is a lot going on with the Bunting situation and we'll talk about that before getting into the Leafs lines.

The decision to scratch Bunting seems to be a popular one and frankly there was a pretty tough March and April stretch that already had some people questioning how valuable Bunting was to the Leafs and to the top six. Personally, that's what I'd hope for because as much as the Leafs have won there are a couple of things to consider. First, the Leafs were badly outplayed for the majority of the last couple of games and heavily relied on the top six willing the Leafs back into the game. And there is also the consideration that needs to be given to Bunting being a better option than Aston-Reese or Lafferty from a skill perspective.

Arguments about Bunting's lack of discipline are really based on recency bias and while he isn't the favourite player of NHL officials keeping him out in favour of fourth line forwards that are equally capable of undisciplined moments when outmatched seems a little strange. If Toronto had been dominant in their wins this decision would make more sense, but seems like Keefe might be overthinking this one.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-92033" src="https://publish.theleafsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/buntingkniessimpsonvacation.png" alt="" width="712" height="536" />

As for Knies, he's certainly benefited from Bunting's departure, and now looks like he could be starting in the Leafs top six. Knies might still be adjusting to the NHL but he is a step ahead of others when it comes to defensive zone play and with Keefe finally flipping Nylander and Marner around, Marner gives Toronto another defensively capable forward on the Tavares line that will hopefully click.

Nylander and Jarnkrok with Matthews seem like a no brainer as well after the final period and overtime against Tampa in Game 4.

Alex Kerfoot finds himself relocated to the 3rd line and this is honestly where I've always wanted to see him. There are elements of Kerfoot's game that are very similar to O'Reilly's frequent St. Louis linemate, David Perron, and the third line is being upgraded in the neutral zone while not trading off much offensively.

The fourth line, for now, looks to remain intact, but they are under the microscope as Keefe is still making a decision on who comes out for Bunting in ideally the second round, but possibly Game Six.

https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1651272976828973080
<h2>Injury Updates</h2>
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651255759374544904

Matt Murray wasn't part of the Leafs full practice so we are still living in the Joseph Woll backup world for the time being. That isn't something that bothers me at all and while Samsonov did leave the practice early, that isn't out of the ordinary so don't freakout about that.

https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1651254943771160582

Victor Mete was in the Leafs full practice, skating on Toronto's fifth pairing with Conor Timmins. Mete's availability doesn't change much for the Leafs but it's good for him to be back on the ice.
<h2>Lightning Lines:</h2>
https://twitter.com/EddieInTheYard/status/1651235153929273346

The Lightning seem to be looking to overload their top line and trust the rest of their forwards to be sour pains in the ass for Toronto the rest of the way through. It will be interesting to see if the Leafs' third line which recently received a defensive upgrade in Kerfoot, along with the McCabe-Brodie pairing will be stapled to that unit with Toronto having the last change or whether Sheldon Keefe has become more comfortable in dictating the pace when he can.

Bunting is the odd man out and Knies gets promoted: Leafs Practice Notes

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