Leafs leading scorer William Nylander is being listed as a game-time decision for Tuesday night’s tilt with the Flames.
“It depends on a couple things,” coach Craig Berube said. “I really don’t want to get too detailed into it, but there’s a couple areas where he needs to feel right. And it’s hard for him to know until it’s game time and out in warm-up and how he feels and how he’s doing certain things. That’s the decision that’s going to be made.”
The star winger missed Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury despite taking part in the pre-game warm-up. He participated in Monday’s practice, but split reps on the top line during 5-on-5 drills.
Nylander has owned the Flames of late, including hitting the scoresheet in 10 straight games against Calgary. Nylander posted three-point outings in both games against the Flames last season, including a hat trick in Calgary.
If Nylander is unable to play, Nick Robertson is expected to once again take his spot on a line with Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann.
Saturday’s game represented a rare opportunity for McMann and Robertson to play on the top line.
“They got a lot of speed, and they’re very direct,” Berube said. “And that’s what they need to do. Like, use their speed. They want to play a territorial game in the offensive zone with Matthews, and Auston’s obviously a very good 200-foot player that can do a lot of different things…Don’t change how you are as a player because you’re playing with Auston Matthews. Like, shoot the puck when you’ve got a chance to shoot the puck.”
Robertson, who sat out Friday’s game as a healthy scratch, scored his first goal of the season in the win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
“Maybe a little more confidence,” Robertson said of how he’s feeling coming into Tuesday’s game. “Maybe a little more relief that you got the first one.”
Regardless of Nylander’s status, Robertson will dress on Tuesday.
Sammy Blais did not stay out late at the Leafs skate and appears to be on standby to play if Nylander is unable to go. Blais has not gotten into a game since being claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens on the eve of the season.
After missing Monday’s practice due to a lower-body issue, Calle Jarnkrok skated on Tuesday, but stayed out late and projects to be a scratch against the Flames.
—
John Tavares scored the overtime winner on Saturday night to move within one goal of 500 in his career. The Leafs are hoping he can hit the milestone on Tuesday night in front of friends and family before the team embarks on a two-game road trip.
“We’re kind of looking extra for him out there,” Robertson said with a smile. “I remember when Auston was going for 70 [goals in the 2023-24 season], like when it was coming down to it, we were looking for him. I’m sure his linemates will think about it.”
Tavares has skated between Matthew Knies and Matias Maccelli in the last two games.
“It’s a good mix,” said Maccelli, who scored his second goal of the season courtesy a Tavares assist on Saturday. “I mean, Kniesy’s a big guy. He plays a hard game, gets pucks, goes to the net and is an all-around good player. And then with JT, you know what you’re getting from him. So it’s super easy to play with him, adjust to what he does out there, and play your own game too.”
Tavares has been paired up with Maccelli for the last seven games.
“I mean, that would be unreal,” Maccelli said of possibly setting up Tavares for a milestone marker. “Hopefully it happens tonight. We’ll see if we get a chance like that. I’ll be looking for him.”
Leafs looking to make this a milestone night for Tavares John Tavares scored the OT winner Saturday to move to within one goal from becoming the 49th player in NHL history to hit the 500-goal plateau. Excited for their teammate to hit the mark, the Maple Leafs say they will be looking for him, and detail what makes Tavares such a special player on and off of the ice.
—
The Leafs will be shuffling their blue line on Tuesday night as the team looks to shore up its rush defence.
“It’s more reads up ice and in the offensive zone with pinching and things like that,” Berube said of the issue. “But also, you know, our F3 [third forward entering the zone] and just not being structured enough, like, you know, kind of diving in, and getting caught, and teams are getting by us and so you kind of get caught in between a little bit.”
At practice on Monday, Morgan Rielly skated beside Philippe Myers, Simon Benoit joined Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson paired up with Brandon Carlo.
“Well, I go back to last year, Rielly and Myers were good together.,” Berube said. “They played a stretch of games together. And just for me, you know, there’s familiarity with Benoit and McCabe, too. So that’s kind of how that worked out.”
Berube highlighted Calgary’s rush attack as something the team will have to be aware of. The coach believes the best defence could be a good offence on Tuesday.
“Let’s get to their blue line tonight,” Berube said. “Let’s work that blue line. Let’s get pucks deep. Let’s get on the forecheck. Let’s make it that type of game. Let’s make it a difficult game. Their goalie’s been extremely good over the last couple of years. We’re going to have to compete to put the puck in the net.”
Leafs shuffle defence pairs in bid to shore up rush defence With Toronto’s defensive core relatively the same as last season, the team hasn’t seen as much success so far in this early season on the rush. Hoping to shake things up and spark the offence, head coach Craig Berube is shuffling the defensive pairs, including reuniting Brandon Carlo with Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
—
Flames goalie Dustin Wolf will get the call again against the Leafs and is looking for some redemption after allowing five goals in each of his two starts, both losses, against Toronto last season.
“I played with him when I was really young in [Los Angeles],” said Robertson, who scored on Wolf in his last game against the Flames. “He’s a great goalie. He’s a great kid. I’ve known him since I was really young. I think six years old back in LA we played together. He was one of my first teammates. He was a really good goalie then, and he’s a good goalie now. He’s a great guy. He’s obviously done really well so far since being in the league.”
Tavares scored once against Wolf last season. Matthews scored twice on Wolf in the last game against the Flames in March.
Anthony Stolarz is the projected starter for the Leafs.
Mental break on weekend allowed Stolarz to reset amid heavier workload Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz has had a heavier workload than expected early this season but he was given a much-needed rest day Saturday. Stolarz spoke about what his weekend was like not having to dress and how he feels overall this season.
—
Flames rookie Zayne Parekh, who is from Markham, Ont., will play his first NHL game in Toronto with plenty of friends and family in attendance.
“Excited,” the 19-year-old said with a big smile. “The rink looks different from the ice level. It looks a little bit unfamiliar when I’m on the ice rather than up at the stands. But, you know, really excited. It should be fun.”
The Flames are looking for Parekh to harness the extra energy in the right way.
“You want to stay within yourself and not try to do too much,” Flames coach Ryan Huska told reporters. “That’s important, but those are all the areas that Zayne’s been working on over the last little bit as well. So, it’s making the plays that are there to be made and not looking to overcomplicate anything and just enjoy his night.”
Parekh estimates he will have around 30 supporters in the crowd. His family shared season tickets with another family growing up so he got the chance to attend plenty of Leafs games.
“I have a picture with [James van Riemsdyk] and Joffrey Lupul just at the box level,” Parekh recalled. “That’s a pretty cool one.”
A big Steven Stamkos fan, the games against the Tampa Bay Lightning stood out for Parekh. His favourite Leaf was actually current Flames teammate Nazem Kadri.
“I loved watching Naz,” Parekh said. “It’s pretty cool to be able to play with him now, because growing up I used to always watch [number] 43 and see him fly around.”
Does Kadri enjoy hearing that?
“I told him I used to come to the games so he knows,” Parekh said. “He thinks it’s hilarious.”
‘It will be a fun one’: Flames rookie Parekh pumped for first NHL game in Toronto Zayne Parekh is set to play in Toronto for the first time tonight on TSN. Parekh grew up in the Greater Toronto Area, and his family had Maple Leafs season tickets. Excited to play at home, Parekh says he was a Steven Stamkos fan, but also enjoyed seeing Nazem Kadri skate around with the Leafs.
—
Flames winger Matt Coronato will draw back into the lineup after sitting out Sunday’s game as a healthy scratch.
“I know I can be better,” the 22-year-old said. “I just want to get back to playing my game, trusting myself and doing what I can to help the group.”
Coronato has just one goal and two assists in nine games this season. His minus-nine rating is the worst among the team’s forwards.
What are the areas he’s working on?
“Just maybe being a little simple with the puck, making the play that’s there, being good on the forecheck,” he said. “Just doing the little things.”
Huska is looking for “Matt to be Matt” on Tuesday.
“His work ethic is never in question for us,” the coach said. “I don’t want him to feel like he has to make something happen every time he’s on the ice. Just let his game take care of itself. I feel like when Matt is free up top his game typically follows.”
Huska liked how Calgary’s top nine looked during a win against the Rangers on Sunday so he’ll keep those groups in tact on Tuesday. Coronato will draw in on the fourth line and also play on the top power play unit.
Adam Klapka will be a healthy scratch for the Flames.
Flames’ Coronato looks to respond after being healthy scratch Matt Coronato, who has two goals and an assist in nine games this season, was be a healthy scratch against the Rangers on Sunday. At the time, head coach Ryan Huska said he wants to give the young forward a reset before he’s back in the lineup. Slated to play tonight in Toronto, Coronato admits he can be better, and says he learned a lot from watching the game in the press box.
—
Max Domi is stuck on just one goal through nine games. A gifted playmaker, he has yet to record an assist and is a team-worst minus-seven.
Berube describes Domi’s season as being “up and down” but also offers a reason why.
“Missed a lot of camp,” the coach pointed out. “That always hurts a guy a little bit. Just kind of not fully healthy, in my opinion.”
Domi tweaked something in the lead up to training camp and missed the first two pre-season games.
—
Flames lines at Tuesday’s skate:
F
Huberdeau – Kadri – Frost
Farabee – Zary – Sharangovich
Honzek – Backlund – Coleman
Lomberg – Kirkland – Coronato
D
Bahl – Andersson
Bean – Weegar
Hanley – Parekh
G
Wolf starts
Cooley
Leafs lines at Monday’s practice:
F
McMann – Matthews – Robertson
Knies – Tavares – Maccelli
Joshua – Roy – Cowan
Lorentz – Domi – Blais
Nylander rotating in with top line
D
Benoit – McCabe
Rielly – Myers
Ekman-Larsson – Carlo
Mermis
G
Stolarz
Primeau
Woll