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Scenes from Leafs’ morning skate: Woll is projected starter, McCabe out, Mark Messier in attendance
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Arun Srinivasan
Dec 4, 2024, 11:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 4, 2024, 11:29 EST
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It’s a busy day across the league as the 4 Nations Face-Off rosters will be announced this afternoon, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are slated to host the Nashville Predators.
Auston Matthews was on the ice before the optional skate began, then left before the session officially was underway. Matt Benning participated in individual shooting drills before the session began as well.
Max Domi and Max Pacioretty were in grey non contact-jerseys. Domi and Pacioretty are both ruled out, although the former could return to the lineup for Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals. Pacioretty was clearly trying to test something out, skating off one leg briefly as he entered the skate.
Here’s what you need to know:
Jake McCabe ruled out vs. Predators
In a surprising move, Jake McCabe has been ruled out of Wednesday’s contest against the Nashville Predators, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed.
“He’s just not feeling right. He’s not feeling good enough to play,” Berube said.
Berube had previously stated that McCabe wouldn’t miss anytime, but the 31-year-old will miss his second consecutive game after taking a puck to the head during Saturday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Philippe Myers will factor into the lineup, and it’s likely that he will be paired with Morgan Rielly, while McCabe’s usual partner, Chris Tanev, will join Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Conor Timmins is most likely going to be paired with Simon Benoit on Toronto’s third unit.
Woll is the projected starter 
Joseph Woll did not attend the optional skate and is the projected starter for Wednesday’s game. Anthony Stolarz was in attendance for the optional skate, and the Maple Leafs are operating out of a true tandem.
Woll has been in excellent form this season, with a 6-2-0 record, .923 save percentage and a 2.13 goals against average, winning his past five starts. It appears likely that Stolarz will start Friday against the Washington Capitals, while Woll will play Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, based on the current rotation.
Mark Messier in attendance
Hall of Famer Mark Messier was at Scotiabank Arena for the morning skate. Messier was accompanied by Brendan Shanahan, and sat with Shanahan, Shane Doan and the Maple Leafs’ executive branch during the practice. It’s likely that Messier was consulting with friends amid a busy day on the hockey calendar. Messier currently serves as a studio and in-game analyst for ESPN.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup:

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-William Nylander 
Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-Mitch Marner
Nick Robertson-Fraser Minten-Steven Lorentz
Nikita Grebenkin-Connor Dewar-Ryan Reaves 
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins
Joseph Woll (projected starter) 
Anthony Stolarz 

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