With Morgan Rielly sidelined due to an upper-body injury, the Maple Leafs are heading into Monday night’s matchup against the Flames looking to lean on their depth-and their pace.
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed that Rielly won’t be back before the upcoming break, noting that the time off should give the veteran defenseman a chance to reset and return healthy. While the exact timeline is still unclear-Rielly is still being evaluated-the injury appears to have been lingering for a while before finally forcing him out of the lineup. He tried to push through it, even attempting to return mid-game before ultimately shutting it down.
“It’s definitely been bothering him,” Berube said. “We hadn’t really talked about it, but it’s been there. And yeah, it’s gotten worse.”
That opens the door for Conor Timmins and Simon Benoit to step in. Berube emphasized the need for the defensive group to operate as a cohesive six-man unit, especially with back-to-back games on the schedule. Managing ice time becomes even more critical in these situations, and the Leafs will be hoping to avoid the kind of heavy-minute nights that Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have been logging recently.
“We were down to five D last game, so that obviously pushed minutes up,” Berube said. “But with Benny and Myers going in, we can spread it out more tonight.”
In net, Joseph Woll gets the start against Calgary, with Anthony Stolarz slated to go tomorrow in Edmonton. Woll’s last outing didn’t feature a ton of action, but Berube liked what he saw-especially late in the game and into overtime.
“He made some big saves when it counted,” Berube said. “I think he’s feeling good about his game right now, and I like giving him another shot with that momentum.”
The Flames present a tough challenge, particularly in transition. Berube praised Calgary’s ability to push the pace and involve four skaters in the rush consistently. It’s a team that thrives on work ethic and pressure-exactly the kind of opponent that tests your structure and stamina.
“They’re a hard-working team,” Berube said. “They’re always coming at you. They’ve had that identity for a while.”
The Leafs are hoping to carry over the tempo they found in the third period of their last game against Vancouver. That final frame saw Toronto dictating pace in all three zones-disrupting plays in the defensive end, transitioning quickly through the neutral zone, and sustaining offensive pressure with a relentless forecheck.
“That third period was more like what we want to be,” Berube said. “We had pace, we were on top of them, and we had a ton of zone time. That’s the key for us.”
As for the setting, there’s a bit of nostalgia in the air. With just one season left before Calgary’s iconic Saddledome is set to be demolished, Berube reflected on his early days playing in the building. His first game there came against a powerhouse Flames squad just before their Stanley Cup win, and the memory still sticks.
“It was a tough place to play,” he recalled. “I remember just trying to catch my breath out there.
Big, heavy team. I had some battles in this building.”
Berube, who spent time playing alongside some of those Cup-winning Flames, spoke fondly of his time in Calgary, calling it a great hockey city and a special place to play. But he acknowledged the time has come for a new arena.
“There’s always a bit of sadness, but it’s time,” he said. “It’ll be great for the city and the team.”
One final note that sparked some chatter: goalie fights. After a recent tilt between netminders caught headlines, Berube offered a measured take.
“I don’t really get it,” he said with a shrug. “Why are the goalies fighting? That’s what the players are for.”
Still, he understood the emotion behind it-especially when a goalie feels like his crease has been disrespected. But if it were up to him, he’d rather see the skaters handle that business.
“If someone pokes your goalie, one of the players should be doing something about it,” Berube said. “That’s how I see it.”
Morning Skate Lines - February 2
Here’s how the Leafs lined up during morning skate in Vancouver:
Forwards:
- McMann - Matthews - Domi
- Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
- Knies - Roy - Robertson
- Lorentz - Laughton - Järnkrok
- Extra: Cowan
Defense:
- McCabe - Carlo
- Ekman-Larsson - Stecher
- Benoit - Myers
- Extra: Rifai
Goaltenders:
- Woll
- Stolarz
With a banged-up blue line, a goaltender looking to build momentum, and a fast, physical opponent across the ice, tonight’s game in Calgary is shaping up to be a test of depth, discipline, and speed.