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Practice News and Notes: 4 Days Until Playoffs

Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

By Dylan Murphy

May 16, 2021, 13:50 EDTUpdated: May 16, 2021, 16:35 EDT

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Now freed from the constraints of the salary cap, the Toronto Maple Leafs have seemingly decided on their playoff lineup for Game 1 on Thursday. At practice today, the Leafs skated with the following lineup:

Zach Hyman – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner
Nick Foligno – John Tavares – William Nylander
Alex Kerfoot – Riley Nash – Ilya Mikheyev
Joe Thornton – Jason Spezza – Wayne Simmonds

Morgan Rielly – T.J. Brodie
Jake Muzzin – Justin Holl
Rasmus Sandin – Travis Dermott

Jack Campbell
Frederik Andersen

To the surprise of no one, Sheldon Keefe confirmed today that Campbell will be the starter in Game 1, so breathe a collective sigh of relief Leafs Nation.

Chris Johnston

@reporterchris

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Jack Campbell enters the playoffs as the #leafs starter, per Sheldon Keefe.

5:30 PM · May 16, 2021

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Galchenyuk, Engvall, Brooks, Sabourin, Hollowell, Malgin and Bogosian all skated as extras, although it should be noted that Bogosian skated in a red ‘no-contact’ jersey, so while his recovery is apparently going well (Keefe said he is trending towards a return at some point during the Montreal series), he will not be an option going into Game 1.

Kristen Shilton

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Sheldon Keefe said it's "very positive" surrounding Zach Bogosian right now. From what Keefe saw at practice today Bogosian looked good, and he "certainly thinks" Bogosian will be an option in the first round

5:31 PM · May 16, 2021

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Ben Hutton was mysteriously absent, but nothing was said about his status or any reasons for his abscence so we’ll leave it at that

The struggling power play is getting yet another shakeup by the looks of things, returning to the approach of having two balanced units as it was at the start of the season, but with one notable shakeup:

Mark Masters

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Pre-practice power play work Looks like Leafs are going back to two balanced units Sandin Matthews - Thornton - Marner Hyman Rielly Spezza - Tavares - Nylander Simmonds @TSN_Edge

3:47 PM · May 16, 2021

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Rasmus Sandin has officially usurped Morgan Rielly as the 1st PP unit quarterback. Zach Hyman also moves up to the 1st unit after filling the netfront role on the 2nd unit at the start of the season. Keefe also had 5-forward unit of Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander and Hyman run a few drills, presumably for 5-on-3 situations.

On Riley Nash and the decision to bring him into the lineup:

Kristen Shilton

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Sheldon Keefe said late start to #Leafs playoffs will allow Riley Nash to be available immediately: "We're gonna get him involved right away and just rely upon the fact that he's a very smart player, very experienced guy...and trust that he's going to be able to fit right in. "

5:36 PM · May 16, 2021

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Nash will no doubt be used in a defensive-minded shutdown role, a part that he’s played successfully in the past playing against the Leafs as a Bruin and Blue Jacket. He also took reps on the penalty kill, partnered up with his fellow former Columbus teammate Nick Foligno.

We’ll wrap this up with a great quote from Morgan Rielly, something that should be a focus in every player’s mind as we approach the start of the playoffs:

Kristen Shilton

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Morgan Rielly on Joe Thornton's late-career Cup ambitions: "He's a great player, one of the best of his generation. As his teammate, you just want to support it. But there's plenty of guys in this room that are hungry, that want to go on a run, and chase that dream."

5:18 PM · May 16, 2021

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