Calle Jarnkrok, Pontus Holmberg set to return for Maple Leafs in Game 6

Pontus Holmberg will come in for David Kampf and suit up alongside John Tavares and William Nylander to give them a defensive boost on the left side, and as he has all series, will trade places with Max Pacioretty if the Leafs need an offensive boost. Jarnkrok will return to the bottom-six in place of Nick Robertson, forming the line with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz that was effective early in the playoffs.

It made sense for Berube to make a change for Game 5, considering that the Leafs had lost back-to-back games, but the game was such a disaster that it almost felt necessary for Holmberg and Jarnkrok to get back in. Kampf’s line was destroyed at 5-on-5, playing to a 24.1%  expected goals (xG) rating, and while Robertson scored the lone goal in the game for Toronto and didn’t play a bad game, per se, he didn’t really impact the game enough to warrant staying in the lineup, especially since his goal game with just over a minute left in the game.

Auston Matthews was also a participant in the full skate, which is of note considering the injury that’s nagged him all season. His status was never up in the air for tonight, but he missed a couple of morning skates and practices earlier in the series, so it’s worth noting.

To say this game will be a bloodbath for the Maple Leafs would be putting it lightly. The Panthers have more than shown that the way they played in Games 1 and 2 aren’t reflective of how they like to operate, and with a chance to win the series on home ice, they’ll be playing each shift like its their last. It’s unlikely that adding Holmberg or Jarnkrok will be the difference-maker in the game, but anybody can be a hero at any time, especially in the playoffs.

Puckdrop is at 7 pm eastern time.