Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs (7-5-2) will wrap up the week with the second leg of a back-to-back against the Montreal Canadiens (4-8-2). Following a home game against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, the Maple Leafs will host the Habs tonight before closing out their three-game home stretch with a game against the Senators on Tuesday.
Ahead of tonight's game the Maple Leafs will be without several players, including newly-minted captain Auston Matthews, who is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. In addition, Connor Dewar is listed as day-to-day with a shoulder injury and Jani Hakanpaa is day-to-day with a knee injury.
Both players will be on assignment with the AHL as they work their way back to 100%. In addition, Dakota Mermis and Calle Jarnkrok both remain listed on the long-term injured reserve list.
With that in mind, the Maple Leafs lines for tonight's game are expected to be as follows:
Forwards:
- LW Matthew Knies - C Max Domi - RW Mitch Marner
- LW Max Pacioretty - C John Tavares - RW William Nylander
- LW Bobby McMann - C Pontus Holmberg - RW Nicholas Robertson
- LW Steven Lorentz - C David Kampf - RW Ryan Reaves
Defense:
- Morgan Rielly - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
- Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
- Simon Benoit - Conor Timmins
Goalies:
- Anthony Stolarz
- Joseph Woll
Powerplay:
- Matthew Knies, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, William Nylander
- Max Domi, Bobby McMann, Max Pacioretty, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Nicholas Robertson
Penalty Kill:
- David Kampf, Mitch Marner, Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev
- Pontus Holmberg, Matthew Knies, Simon Benoit, Conor Timmins
Looking at the latest regarding Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews' injury
Prior to the start of the season, Auston Matthews notably exited practice in late September. When asked about the situation, Craig Berube described whatever was ailing the newly-minted captain as an "upper body thing".
While Matthews was able to play in the Maple Leafs' first 13 games of the season, another upper-body injury has kept him on the bench since the team's Nov. 3 loss to the Minnesota Wild.
While Berube indicated that whatever upper-body injury Matthews is dealing with is different from the wrist injury he needed surgery to fix in August 2021, his absence has left fans concerned.
The team was able to pick up a shutout win over the Bruins on Tuesday in his absence. However, if the injury winds up plaguing Matthews throughout the season the Maple Leafs' year may not pan out as hoped.
The latest from Craig Berube is that Matthews didn't skate leading up to Friday's game with the Red Wings. Given that tonight's game will be the last leg of a back-to-back the team will likely sit him through the weekend.
Depending on how his recovery progresses over the weekend, he may return to action on Tuesday when the Leafs play the Senators, or on Wednesday when they play the Capitals.