Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided a brief update on Oliver Ekman-Larsson, where it appears that the veteran defenceman could return for the playoffs.

Ekman-Larsson will not play Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, and missed the Maple Leafs’ past two games, after suffering an upper-body injury during an April 9 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“That’s a good question. Right now I expect him to play but you never know. He’s tough. He’ll play through things. If he’s not in the lineup then somebody else is going to have to step up,” Berube said Tuesday via TSN’s Mark Masters.

Ekman-Larsson has been a core part of the Maple Leafs’ revamped defence, recording four goals and 29 points in 77 games. It would be a crushing loss for the Maple Leafs if Ekman-Larsson missed any playoff time at all. The veteran defenceman won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers and provides an element of physicality on the blue line.

Berube previously stated that Jake McCabe would be able to return for the playoffs. Based on Berube’s comments Tuesday, it appears likely that McCabe will miss the regular season finale, in an effort to recover for the playoffs.

“I don’t know. That’s going to have to be a question and conversation I’m going to have to have with him individually about where he’s at and what I think is best for the team and him,” Berube said of McCabe’s availability.

McCabe has recorded two goals and 23 points in 66 games, serving as the Maple Leafs’ best point-of-attack defender. The 31-year-old has formed a true shutdown pairing with Chris Tanev, and will be needed for the Maple Leafs to go on a deep playoff run.

Ekman-Larsson, McCabe and forward David Kampf are all skating in Toronto, but it appears all three players will be sitting out the final two games of the regular season.

Dakota Mermis is in the lineup for the Maple Leafs after being recalled on an emergency basis. It would be a true emergency if Mermis sees playoff minutes, with the Maple Leafs missing two of their core defencemen, which would constitute a worst-case possible scenario.