The Leafs had an optional morning skate this morning that ended up being quite packed with players . Chief among them was Calle Jarnkrok.
This is another step for him as he works his way back from a hand injury that has kept him out of the lineup for about a month. It is the second time this week that he was spotted on the ice getting in some reps so it is a clear sign he is on track to return to the fold in short order.
While it is not clear at this time when exactly that will be, it’s safe to assume it will be no later than Game 1 of the playoffs. Either way, getting another critical component of the forward lineup back will be a big boost for the Leafs who have certainly missed his two-way play.
In addition to this, Joel Edmundson says he is all good to play and provided some context into what exactly got him banged up in the first place. Turns out a blocked shot during a game against the Hurricanes a few weeks back bothered him so Toronto opted to give him some rest instead risking further ailment.
On the plus side, it sounds like the injury was not serious because he claims he could have played through it if it occurred in the postseason. This is yet another example of the Leafs opting to use the precious time they have available before Game 1 to get their players as fresh as possible and that meant resting a defender who was a bit sore from a block.
Timothy Liljegren was seen on the ice during the morning skate which was the first time he took reps since suffering his upper body injury. Sheldon Keefe spoke with reporters after the skate with an update, saying that Liljegren is expected to practice tomorrow and the team is hoping he can get into one of the final three regular-season games before the start of the playoffs.
While it would be nice to have him back on Saturday against the Red Wings, the more likely scenario for Liljegren is one of the two games in Florida to close out the campaign with the finale against the Lightning being the likely date. Regardless of when he gets back into the fold, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be good to go for the postseason.
In addition to Edmundson, Ilya Lyubushkin and Connor Dewar will also slide back into the lineup after both sat out in Tuesday’s game. This results in Noah Gregor, Conor Timmins, and Jake McCabe sitting out for the contest and there is a multitude of reasons for them to be scratched. Gregor and Timmins were fill-ins for the regulars who were given the night off while McCabe is getting a maintenance day from the Leafs so he can recover from some bumps and bruises in time for the two-month grind.
The only other noteworthy change to the lineup is that Ilya Samsonov is projected to get the nod for this game given he was doing his typical starters routine at the morning skate and was the first off the ice. It makes sense that he continues to get the crease because he has all but cemented his place as the Game 1 starter so making sure he stays in a rhythm is crucial. Besides that, the lineups should remain similar to what was used on Monday when they hosted the Penguins.
Toronto will have a tilt with the Devils on Tuesday night, where you can catch the action on Sportsnet and with puck drop set for 7 p.m. EST.
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