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Maple Leafs Practice Notes: Pacioretty in for Reaves, Stolarz to start, power play gets extended work
Max Pacioretty (Steven Ellis/The Leafs Nation)
Photo credit: Max Pacioretty (Steven Ellis/The Leafs Nation)
Arun Srinivasan
Oct 21, 2024, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 21, 2024, 13:26 EDT
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It was a busy full practice for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday morning as they get ready to host the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Chris Tanev skated in full capacity, while working on the penalty kill throughout Monday’s session. Tanev returned to Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers later in the third period, after a blocking a Mika Zibanejad slap shot in the second period, where he skated directly to the dressing room afterwards.
Here’s what you need to know about Monday’s practice:

Max Pacioretty back in the lineup, Ryan Reaves out

Max Pacioretty will factor back into the Maple Leafs’ lineup after being rendered a healthy scratch the past two games. Pacioretty took the benching in stride, and took reps alongside Toronto’s second power play unit throughout Monday’s session.
“We got back-to-back games here so there’s an opportunity to get fresh guys in there,” Berube told reporters about his decision.
Pacioretty will take Ryan Reaves place in the lineup. Reaves played a physical game against the New York Rangers, but it appears that Berube is keeping his forward rotation flexible, as the team prepares for a back-to-back with Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on the horizon.
“I don’t really need a message. I’ve played for a long time,” Pacioretty said Saturday morning at the Ford Performance Centre. “I know it’s a long season and when you’re looking at the playoffs, it’s a whole new season there. Obviously, it’s a big deal that I’m getting asked about it but at the same time, I don’t focus on any of that stuff I can’t control. I can control working on my game and being a good teammate.”
Reaves was seen getting extra work in as the practice session formally concluded.

Stolarz the projected starter, Woll possible for Tuesday’s game vs. Blue Jackets

Anthony Stolarz is Monday’s projected starter against Tampa Bay, which will make for his fifth start in six games. Stolarz has operated as a true No. 1 in Joseph Woll’s injury-related absence. Perhaps more pointedly, Woll could be returning soon.
Berube said Woll “possibly” could play against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Woll hasn’t played this season, since being placed on injured reserve on October 9, ahead of the Maple Leafs’ season opener. He has been eligible to return since October 16 and took a mandatory day off on Saturday.
Could this mean the end of Dennis Hildeby’s run with the Maple Leafs? Nothing has been confirmed yet, but Woll could be back in action as early as Tuesday evening.

Power play gets extended reps

Toronto worked through some routine 2-on-1 drills, but the power play got an extended look with real simulations against a penalty kill group rotation consisting of Connor Dewar, Ryan Reaves, Steven Lorentz, David Kampf, Jani Hakanpaa, Philippe Myers, Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev. Pacioretty was added back to Toronto’s second power play group, alongside Max Domi, Nick Robertson, Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly.
At one point, Berube could be heard yelling “don’t force it” to Toronto’s first power play group, which could be instructive advice for a collective group that has converted on merely 12.5 percent of its chances through the opening five games of the season, ranking 27th prior to Monday’s games.

Maple Leafs projected lineup

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-Max Domi-William Nylander 
Max Paciorettty-John Tavares-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Pontus Holmberg
Morgan Rielly-Chris Tanev
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Jake McCabe 
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins 
Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)
Dennis Hildeby 

Lightning projected line up

Here is Tampa Bay’s projected lineup from Monday’s morning skate via team reporter Gabby Shirley:

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