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Leafs return to 5-forward power play, Lorentz joins Matthews, Marner, McCabe leaves early
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
TLN Staff
Jan 13, 2025, 11:48 ESTUpdated: Jan 13, 2025, 16:46 EST
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After the Toronto Maple Leafs were outclassed 3-0 by the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, head coach Craig Berube made several changes during Monday’s practice.
Toronto’s much-maligned power play returned to a five-forward unit, with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Matthew Knies on the team’s first unit. Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann, Max Domi and Nick Robertson formed the second group. Berube brought the groups together to specifically work on the power play set up, before the practice session formally began.
“I think just simplifying it. I think we just got to get more pucks to the net. It was a lot of movement, a lot of nothing going on, I guess. We could do a better job of simplifying it and getting shots to the net and letting things open up from there,” Matthews said of Toronto’s power play, following Saturday’s loss.
Berube made major changes to the lines overall, as Steven Lorentz joined Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Toronto’s first line. Matthew Knies joined John Tavares and William Nylander, while McMann-Domi-Robertson remained intact. Ryan Reaves slotted back in on the fourth line with Connor Dewar and David Kampf.
Jake McCabe returned to practice but left before line rushes began. McCabe has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury in a fight against Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway on January 5 and was placed on injured reserve. He’s eligible to return whenever he’s deemed ready, but it seems that he’s unlikely to play Tuesday against the Dallas Stars.
Joseph Woll is the projected starter for Tuesday’s game. Woll has posted a 14-7-0 record with a .912 save percentage this season and is currently Toronto’s No. 1 goaltender, with Dennis Hildeby serving as the backup.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Stars

Steven Lorentz-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Matthew Knies-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Connor Dewar-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves 
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins 
Joseph Woll (projected starter) 
Dennis Hildeby 

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