
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz will return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, head coach Craig Berube confirmed via TSN’s Mark Masters.
Berube previously said Lorentz was an option for Saturday’s contest. Lorentz suffered an upper-body injury against the Detroit Red Wings on October 11 and hasn’t played since.
“That’s the way it goes, I’m happy that we got the win,” Lorentz said after Friday’s practice. “Obviously as a competitor, I want to be in the lineup every single night. But Chief was rolling with what he was rolling with and we had got the win in Nashville, so I’ll never be upset with the coach’s decision to just keep the lines rolling the way they are. When my number’s called, if it’s [Saturday], I’m just going to be as ready as I can to help.”
Calle Jarnkrok will come out of the lineup as a result. Jarnkrok has recorded three goals in five games, playing with renewed confidence to start the season.
“Just a numbers game. Nothing more than that,” Berube explained Saturday morning.
Lorentz will likely lineup alongside Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua for Saturday’s contest, skating with this duo during Friday’s practice.
There are no other expected changes for the Maple Leafs, with Easton Cowan remaining on the first line. Cowan has impressed through three games, and is still searching for his first NHL goal. The 20-year-old recorded his first NHL point in Tuesday’s victory over the Nashville Predators.
“He’s getting more and more confident,” Lorentz said of Cowan on Friday. “Going back to training camp, he played well in the preseason games, and now when it’s real speed, regular season, he’s got the puck on his stick. You see he’s not afraid to make some plays and he’s taking chances out there.”
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Easton Cowan
Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
Nick Robertson-Max Domi-Bobby McMann
Steven Lorentz-Nicolas Roy-Dakota Joshua
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)
Cayden Primeau
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