The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to have avoided another potential blow to their blue line, but injury uncertainty remains.
Jake McCabe is expected to play Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Craig Berube told reporters on Monday.
McCabe exited Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens late in the second period after a shot rode up his stick and hit him in the face. The Leafs defenceman was seen favouring his jaw after the play.
Meanwhile, forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy are close to returning after they all participated in practice on Monday, but their status will be determined closer to Wednesday, Berube said.
Matthews has been sidelined since Nov. 11 after suffering a lower-body injury against the Boston Bruins. The 28-year-old Matthews, who has 14 points, was limited to 33 goals in 67 games last season as he dealt with a persistent upper-body injury.
Knies has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old had five goals and 17 assists while playing all 22 games before his absence.
Roy has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury sustained in the team’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 15.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz has not skated since being injured against the Bruins on Nov. 11 and is still “a ways away,” per Berube.
Defenceman Brandon Carlo has also not yet skated since suffering an injury against the Blackhawks.