It’s a rare afternoon start for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they host the Detroit Red Wings, and head coach Craig Berube addressed the unique circumstances during his media availability Monday.

“I think guys look forward to afternoon games,” Berube said. “It’s not the whole day thinking about the game. It’s like, get here in the morning, we’re going to play. You got to be ready at the drop of the puck, like any game. Get a good warmup skate, get your legs going, and get your mind into it as quickly as possible, because when puck drops, it’s on.”

Toronto is looking to bounce back from a 6-3 loss to Detroit on Saturday. Aside from Anthony Stolarz, Nicolas Roy and Calle Jarnkrok, the entire team struggled, while the Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander line were arguably the biggest culprits. Berube shuffled the lines ahead of Monday’s game, and placed Matias Maccelli with Tavares and Nylander for Monday’s contest.

“I’ve put Maccelli there for more puck touches,” Berube explained. “They’re not getting enough puck touches in the offensive zone. They’re not getting there enough and when they do get there, it’s in and out. A little more control with the puck. This guy can make plays. He’s done a good job of, in my opinion, during the first few games, of hanging onto pucks in the offensive zone. I need those guys in the offensive zone doing their thing more. That’s where they’re the most effective.”

Maccelli initially started the year alongside Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews and will likely be deployed throughout the top-nine, as Berube looks to find his ideal combinations. Easton Cowan will make his NHL debut Monday on the top line with Knies and Matthews.

Stolarz will start Monday’s game, his third consecutive appearance to begin the year, with Cayden Primeau serving as his backup.

Steven Lorentz skated Monday, and could be potentially available for Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators. Lorentz will not play in Monday’s game but his status will be something to monitor, after he suffered an upper-body injury Saturday.

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