Timothy Liljegren won’t play in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Tuesday night matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Liljegren, 24, has already missed 17 games this season due to a high-ankle sprain suffered last November against the Boston Bruins. In 40 games this season, the 2017 first-round pick has two goals and 14 assists for 16 points and has averaged a career-high 19:27 of ice time.
The last six games have seen a massive improvement in Liljegren’s game, as well as a big increase in his ice time, with him averaging 22:31 since their Feb. 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. During those six games, the right-handed blueliner also had seven assists and saw plenty of time on the power play.
Mark Giordano, who has not played since Feb. 15 against the Flyers, is expected to draw into the lineup as a replacement for Liljegren. In 36 games this season, the former Norris Trophy-winner has a goal and six assists for seven points and is averaging 17:02 of ice time.
The Maple Leafs are 33-16-8 with 74 points, third in the Atlantic Division and winners are seven straight. As it stands, they’re six points back of the Florida Panthers and eight points behind the Bruins, meaning they will likely play one of the two teams in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After Tuesday’s game, Toronto continues their five-game home stand on Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes, then host the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
William Nylander currently leads the team in points with 78 (31 goals and 47 assists) and Auston Matthews isn’t far behind with 77, most notably scoring a league-leading 52 goals. No other player in the league even has 40, as Sam Reinhart of the Panthers has 39.
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