*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
The immediate future of the Toronto Maple Leafs appeared ominous on the weekend in spite of sweeping back-to-back games against Boston and Carolina, as Ilya Samsonov missed the third period of the Bruins game with a knee injury, but the future did not seem so gloomy at the Leafs morning skate on Tuesday, as Samsonov and Matt Murray were both on the ice as the club prepared for their rematch with the Vegas Golden Knights at Scotiabank Arena.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that Samsonov was “feeling pretty good, all things considered”, but his status is considered week-to-week. Murray has been out since suffering an adductor strain on October 15 and is expected to take part in a full practice on Wednesday.
Matt Murray (adductor) on the ice ahead of Leafs practice
Samsonov was placed on injured reserve on the weekend and could be placed on LTIR if the prognosis is that he will be unavailable for the rest of November. Murray was placed on LTIR and exceeded the 10-game / 24-day minimum qualifications, so he could be activated at any time that the Leafs medical staff deems him available.
The Leafs did not make any lineup changes from Sunday’s 3-1 win over Carolina. Youngster Nick Robertson remained in the top six, skating with John Tavares and William Nylander, while Alex Kerfoot remained on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Michael Bunting slotted in on the third line with Pierre Engvall and Calle Jarnkrok, and the fourth line of Zach Aston-Reese, David Kampf, and Denis Malgin remained intact.
Defensively, the pairings all remained the same (Morgan Rielly – Timothy Liljegren, TJ Brodie – Justin Holl, and Mark Giordano – Rasmus Sandin), and Jordie Benn took part as an extra skater for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain late in training camp.
Erik Kallgren will get the start against Vegas, and will likely go in one of the back-to-back home games against Pittsburgh (Friday) or Vancouver (Saturday), but currently, it is unclear whether Murray or Keith Petruzzelli will make the other start.
As expected, Matt Murray is taking part in the morning skate. Sharing the other net with Keith Petruzzelli. pic.twitter.com/DSnjLP0Uqv
Vegas has won seven games in a row (a streak that started with a 3-1 win over Toronto on October 24) and is currently tied with the Bruins with the league’s top record at 11-2-0. Adin Hill started their 6-4 win over Montreal on Saturday, which could mean that Logan Thompson (6-2-0, 2.01 GAA, .934 save percentage) will start against the Leafs for the second time this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»