|
Komarov not at practice, will not play in Game 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
For the latest Leafs updates or on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to the ice at the MasterCard Centre on Wednesday to get ready for Game 4 against the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre on Thursday.
Toronto was able to get up off the mat after a pair of lopsided losses in Boston and get back into the series with a 4-2 win on Monday, but now must hold serve on home ice to even the series going back to Beantown and avoid facing elimination on Saturday.
“We’re playing Game 4 tomorrow and we need a win.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after practice on Wednesday. “I think we are in a real good spot, I think this will be the most competitive game so far in this series. Obviously, (Boston) is going to be ready to play. Anytime you don’t win, you want to bounce back hard. We expect their best game for sure.”
The Leafs did not have their full complement of players available at their practice facility in Etobicoke, as Leo Komarov did not skate after taking to the ice on Tuesday. Komarov did not play on Monday after an apparent recurrence of a lower body injury in a collision with Boston defenseman Kevan Miller in Game 2.
In his media availability after practice, Babcock indicated that the veteran winger was given a personal day on Wednesday, but also that would not be available for Game 4 on Thursday.
Rookie Andreas Johnsson appeared unhindered at practice after being undercut by Boston’s Brad Marchand during a Bruins power play early in the third period and was on the ice at MasterCard Centre on Wednesday.
With Komarov unavailable, the club maintained the same line combinations and defensive pairings used in their win on Monday, with Auston Matthews playing between Zach Hyman, Tomas Plekanec centering Mitch Marner and Patrick Marleau, Tyler Bozak skating with James van Riemsdyk and Connor Brown and Dominic Moore lined up with rookies Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen.
Nazem Kadri also skated on Wednesday, in spite of the fact that he will be unavailable for Game 4 with one more game to serve out of his three-game suspension for hitting Tommy Wingels in Game 1.
How Toronto performs on Thursday may have a lot to do with where Kadri fits in when eligible on Saturday.
If the Leafs get another performance out of Tomas Plekanec as they did on Monday, it is possible that Leafs head coach Mike Babcock would keep the veteran center between Marleau and Marner and insert Kadri in place of Moore to give Toronto a match up advantage on the fourth line with the 30-goal scorer playing in between speedy wingers Johnsson and Kapanen.
If Babcock chooses to return to the line combination that helped Marner become the Leafs leading scorer and that played the most consistently down the stretch, then Kadri would resume his normal spot on the second line and Plekanec would return to the fourth line, but if the club is down, it could mean all hands on deck (including Komarov) on Saturday night.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»