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The Toronto Maple Leafs have 12 games to go in the regular season and while it appears that they want to head into the Stanley Cup Playoffs playing well and possibly getting into a position to have home-ice advantage in the first round, the most important thing is to be healthy and rested for Game 1 a little over three weeks from now.
The Leafs take on the New Jersey Devils at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday in the first of a two-game homestand but based on some of the absences from the morning skate, the club is not rushing players back and may be strategically giving others a day of rest here or there.
Goalie Ilya Samsonov was on the ice on Tuesday after leaving the 6-3 win over Edmonton late in the third period with an apparent lower-body injury but did not participate in the skate. Winger Mitch Marner also made an appearance, working with some of the club’s staff, but did not take part in line rushes.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that Marner is progressing well and has been upgraded to day-to-day. Defensemen Morgan Rielly has a minor injury but has not been ruled out for tonight, while veteran Joel Edmundson has a minor injury that may keep him out a few games.
Mitch Marner is on the ice getting some work in with skills staff before the team gets ready for a full morning skate in about an hour from now. pic.twitter.com/lqCM2jgSEU
Joseph Woll will get the start against the Devils.
The key matchup on the out-of-town scoreboard will be in Sunrise where the Panthers host the Boston Bruins. The two clubs are tied at 97 points for top spot in the Atlantic Division, and the team that finishes in second will likely be Toronto’s first-round opponent.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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