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After mostly a favorable and evenly dispersed schedule this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs embark on a stretch of three games in four nights for the second week in a row against the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Arena, but they will have to do it without Auston Matthews. The Hart Trophy winner is second on the club behind linemate William Nylander with 20 goals, but will miss his first game of the season with an unspecified injury.
"I'd say he's just day to day. He's out there putting in lots of work (at an optional skate) and (is) clearly not too far away. He's improving daily and we'll see where he's at for tomorrow." Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "It's something that's been lingering for a while."
Keefe would not elaborate on what type of injury, but is likely opting to give Matthews the night off against an non-division opponent with Atlantic Division foes Detroit and Boston on Thursday and Saturday. The Leafs moved William Nylander to center in Matthews place between Michael Bunting and Pierre Engvall, choosing to keep the second line of Calle Jarnkrok-John Tavares-Mitch Marner, and the fourth line unit of Zach Aston-Reese-Pontus Holmberg-Dryden Hunt intact.
Replacing Engvall on the third line will be Bobby McMann, who fresh off being named AHL Player of the Week will play alongside Alex Kerfoot and David Kampf in his NHL debut.
"I think anytime you've got a guy playing his first game, you try not to overwhelm him too much. There's enough going on as it is." Keefe said. "(Bobby)'s at his best when he's moving his feet and skating. (He's a) big strong guy and he's found a way to really make his mark very quickly at the AHL level. He's an older guy coming out of college and doesn't have a great deal of experience at the pro level, but that didn't faze him adjusting to the AHL. He's now had a camp and some exhibition games with us, so the hope is that he can make an impact right away."
Matt Murray (10-4-2, 2.57 GAA, .916 save %) will get the start for Toronto in the first of back-to-back games, which would indicate that Ilya Samsonov will go against the Wings on Thursday. Juuse Saros (15-10-5, 2.67 GAA, .921 save %) will between the pipes for Nashville.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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