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Leafs Practice Notes: Say goodbye to 5-forward power play, McMann ‘very close’ to return, Stolarz day-to-day
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
TLN Staff
Dec 13, 2024, 13:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 13, 2024, 13:31 EST
It was an eventful practice for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the team responds to Anthony Stolarz’s lower-body injury.
Stolarz was ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at the first intermission and Joseph Woll took over in his absence. Head coach Craig Berube stated that Stolarz is day-to-day, while revealing it was ‘good news overall’ via Jonas Siegel of The Athletic.
“But in saying that, he’s gotta get on the ice. But it was good news overall. So, let’s just leave it at that. Right now it’s day to day,” Berube said when asked if Stolarz could return next week.
It’s unclear how Stolarz suffered the injury and this constitutes some welcome relief, as he’s been one of the NHL’s best goalies to begin the year, forming a legitimate Vezina Trophy campaign. Woll has also operated as one of the NHL’s best goaltenders and is now elevated to a true No. 1 role.
In the interim, the Maple Leafs have recalled Dennis Hildeby on an emergency basis and he was a full participant in practice, as Woll’s backup. Hildeby has played two games for the Maple Leafs this season, posting a 1-1-0 record with a .869 save percentage.
Bobby McMann is close to returning to the lineup, and he was placed alongside Fraser Minten and Max Domi on a new-look third line that offers a unique combination of elite speed, playmaking and defensive responsibility. When asked if he’d return to the lineup Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings, McMann merely stated ‘hopefully’ which potentially indicates that he could be a game-time decision, on the right side of questionable, while Berube stated once again that McMann is ‘very close’ to returning.
It appears that the Maple Leafs are preparing for McMann’s return in any event, as it will have a ripple effect across the lineup. Ryan Reaves was functioning as Toronto’s eighth defenceman, taking reps alongside Philippe Myers, while Pontus Holmberg, Connor Dewar and Steven Lorentz formed the fourth line. This likely indicates that Reaves and Myers will be healthy scratches for Saturday’s game.
Toronto has also apparently abandoned its five-forward power play unit, as Morgan Rielly took reps with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Timmins joined Max Pacioretty, Max Domi and Matthew Knies.
Here are the practice lines, via Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun:
Matthew Knies- Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Fraser Minten-Max Domi
Pontus Holmberg-Connor Dewar-Steven Lorentz
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins 
Joseph Woll
Dennis Hildeby