Leafs practice notes: Opening night lines come into focus, Rifai to undergo surgery, Reimer signs PTO

We’re nearing October and subsequently, the opening night line combinations for the Toronto Maple Leafs are coming into focus.

Toronto will host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night, and held a practice Friday at the Ford Performance Centre. It’s unclear if the Maple Leafs will be running a full NHL roster on Saturday, but it appears that head coach Craig Berube may be experimenting with his October 8 configuration.

Max Domi is on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Domi spent training camp recovering from a lower-body injury and could see his first preseason action this year, while Knies and Matthews have been stapled together. Bobby McMann is back with John Tavares and William Nylander, while Matias Maccelli operates on the right wing on a line with Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy.

During Thursday’s comprehensive 7-2 victory over the Canadiens, a new line featuring Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton and Easton Cowan caught fire, and the Maple Leafs may have their fourth line figured out for the regular season — although not everyone is on board, as Bruce Boudreau argued Cowan shouldn’t be on the fourth line during his appearance on Leafs Morning Take.

Marshall Rifai will undergo wrist surgery after leaving Thursday’s game after the first period. Rifai wasn’t expected to crack the Maple Leafs’ opening night lineup but he’s a reliable, physical presence on the back end. Veteran goaltender James Reimer signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) and will be reunited with the Maple Leafs, after featuring for the team from 2011-16. Joseph Woll is taking a leave of absence, and Reimer is expected to provide some depth to the Maple Leafs’ goaltending pool.

Saturday’s starter hasn’t been announced yet, but we could see some extended minutes from Anthony Stolarz.