<p>Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will play Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Craig Berube confirmed. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are also expected to return Saturday, after speaking to reporters following the morning skate.</p>
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<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve been playing for sure. Timing and things like that are all set for them. Just the emotion and the mental and physical toughness that was put into those games, especially the last one. I expect them to be fine tonight. We&#8217;ll manage them the best we can, see how they look and how they&#8217;re feeling,&#8221; Berube said of the Matthews-Marner duo.</p>
<p>Matthews and Marner did not participate in the morning skate, but spoke to reporters. Berube had <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/berube-no-intention-resting-matthews-marner-weekend-predicts-4-nations-faceoff-final">previously indicated this week</a> that Matthews and Marner would return to Saturday&#8217;s action. Based on this week&#8217;s practice reps, Matthews and Marner will be reunited with Matthew Knies on the top line, while Max Domi will operate as a third-line winger.</p>
<p>Berube indicated that Stolarz had plenty of time off, and did not play in the Maple Leafs&#8217; last regular season game prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break, which informed his decision to give him the start Saturday.</p>
<p>William Nylander was back on the ice, among the participants in a well-attended optional morning skate.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s a pretty well-attended optional morning skate for the Leafs: Nylander, Domi, Hakanpaa, Holmberg, Lorentz, Jarnkrok, Myers, Kampf, Steeves, Robertson, McMann, Woll, Reaves, Ekman-Larsson, Tanev, Stolarz among the players on the ice.</p>
<p>&mdash; Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arunthings/status/1893322172266869090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Alex Steeves will play Saturday, Max Pacioretty will not play Saturday or Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks, while Connor Dewar is close to returning but won&#8217;t play Saturday, Berube confirmed.</p>
<p>Steeves recorded 29 goals and 46 points in 40 games with the AHL&#8217;s Toronto Marlies and could make his case for a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/calle-jarnkrok-returns-practice-maple-leafs-call-up-alex-steeves">permanent spot in the lineup</a> with a stellar showing. He did not record a point in four games with the Maple Leafs this season. The 25-year-old is expected to slot into the Maple Leafs&#8217; fourth line.</p>
<h3>Maple Leafs&#8217; projected lineup vs. Hurricanes</h3>
<p><em>Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner</em></p>
<p><em>Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander </em></p>
<p><em>Max Domi-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson</em></p>
<p><em>Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Alex Steeves </em></p>
<p><em>Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev</em></p>
<p><em>Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson</em></p>
<p><em>Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins </em></p>
<p><em>Anthony Stolarz (confirmed starter)</em></p>
<p><em>Joseph Woll </em></p>
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will play Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, head coach Craig Berube confirmed. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are also expected to return Saturday, after speaking to reporters following the morning skate.
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"They've been playing for sure. Timing and things like that are all set for them. Just the emotion and the mental and physical toughness that was put into those games, especially the last one. I expect them to be fine tonight. We'll manage them the best we can, see how they look and how they're feeling," Berube said of the Matthews-Marner duo.

Matthews and Marner did not participate in the morning skate, but spoke to reporters. Berube had <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/berube-no-intention-resting-matthews-marner-weekend-predicts-4-nations-faceoff-final">previously indicated this week</a> that Matthews and Marner would return to Saturday's action. Based on this week's practice reps, Matthews and Marner will be reunited with Matthew Knies on the top line, while Max Domi will operate as a third-line winger.

Berube indicated that Stolarz had plenty of time off, and did not play in the Maple Leafs' last regular season game prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off break, which informed his decision to give him the start Saturday.

William Nylander was back on the ice, among the participants in a well-attended optional morning skate.

https://twitter.com/Arunthings/status/1893322172266869090

Alex Steeves will play Saturday, Max Pacioretty will not play Saturday or Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks, while Connor Dewar is close to returning but won't play Saturday, Berube confirmed.

Steeves recorded 29 goals and 46 points in 40 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies and could make his case for a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/calle-jarnkrok-returns-practice-maple-leafs-call-up-alex-steeves">permanent spot in the lineup</a> with a stellar showing. He did not record a point in four games with the Maple Leafs this season. The 25-year-old is expected to slot into the Maple Leafs' fourth line.
<h3>Maple Leafs' projected lineup vs. Hurricanes</h3>
<em>Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner</em>

<em>Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander </em>

<em>Max Domi-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson</em>

<em>Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Alex Steeves </em>

<em>Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev</em>

<em>Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson</em>

<em>Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins </em>

<em>Anthony Stolarz (confirmed starter)</em>

<em>Joseph Woll </em>
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>
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Matthews, Marner back for Leafs, Stolarz to start vs. Hurricanes, Pacioretty, Dewar ruled out

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