Toronto Maple Leafs fans have reason to breathe a little easier as goaltender Anthony Stolarz and defenseman Morgan Rielly returned to practice. Both players missed Saturday’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators, leaving the team in a bit of a scramble.
Stolarz had a scare during warmups when a shot from William Nylander hit him in the throat. After a trip to the hospital, he's back on the ice, participating fully in Monday’s practice.
Rielly, dealing with a nagging lower-body injury, aggravated it during Friday’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Listed as day-to-day, his return to practice is a positive sign for the Leafs.
In response to these absences, Toronto called up goaltender Dennis Hildeby from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Hildeby has shown promise with a 5-6-4 record and a .912 save percentage this season.
With Joseph Woll shouldering a significant load in March, there's speculation Hildeby might get the nod for Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins. However, Hildeby was notably absent from Monday’s practice.
Head coach Craig Berube hasn't tipped his hand regarding the starting goalie. Berube expressed disappointment with Woll's performance after Friday’s loss, emphasizing the need for timely saves. The team’s morale took another hit after losing an early lead to the Senators on Saturday.
Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson left practice early, possibly due to fatigue after returning to the lineup following the birth of his child. If Ekman-Larsson or Rielly can't play against the Bruins, Philippe Myers is expected to stay in the lineup, paired with Simon Benoit during practice.
Meanwhile, Michael Pezzetta seems set to be a healthy scratch, having been recalled but not playing over the weekend.
Here’s a look at the projected lineup for the Leafs against the Bruins:
- Forwards: Easton Cowan, John Tavares, William Nylander Matthew Knies, Max Domi, Nick Robertson Matias Maccelli, Bo Groulx, Dakota Joshua Steven Lorentz, Jacob Quillan, Calle Jarnkrok
- Defensemen: Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo Jake McCabe, Troy Stecher Simon Benoit, Philippe Myers
- Goaltenders: Joseph Woll Anthony Stolarz
As the Leafs gear up for their clash with the Bruins, they'll be hoping for a strong performance to boost team morale and keep their playoff ambitions on track.