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Matthews out, Soshnikov in; Leafs vs. Devils |
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The Toronto Maple Leafs return to the ice after a four-day respite to take on the New Jersey Devils at Air Canada Centre, but will not have Auston Matthews in the lineup for the fourth straight game.
The Devils (11-4-2) handed Toronto a 6-3 loss (their first of the season) at ACC on October 11 and lead the Metropolitan Division with 24 points. New Jersey has lost only once in regulation on the road.
The Leafs (12-7-0) have won their last four games and in second place in the Atlantic Division, and have managed to stay in the win column without Matthews, who leads the club with 19 points.
The Calder Trophy winner missed wins over Minnesota and two against Boston, but began showing progress towards returning this week, skating own his own on Monday, with a few teammates on Tuesday and participating in a full practice on Wednesday, but after participating in an optional morning skate on Thursday, Leafs head coach Mike Babcock indicated that Matthews would be unavailable.
The Leafs medical staff continues to proceed with caution regarding the unspecified upper body injury, which could be because the club is winning without their star center and also because Toronto has a busy November schedule, with seven games in 13 days beginning with division rival Montreal on Saturday.
Veteran Patrick Marleau is expected to shift back to the middle with Matthews scratched. Connor Brown, who skated with the fourth line on Wednesday will likely be moved up and Babcock indicated that winger Nikita Soshnikov will make his first NHL start of the season, replacing Josh Leivo and playing with Matt Martin and Dominic Moore.
Soshnikov played 56 games for the Leafs last season and had 12 points (5 goals and 7 assists) in 14 games for the Toronto Marlies, but his call-up was necessitated by a clause in his entry-level contract that would allow him to return to the KHL if he is not on an NHL roster by November 15.
“(Soshnikov) got hurt (last season) and played well for us when he was here. We wanted to get him going again (and) give him a chance.” Babcock said. “He had a clause in his contract, so that puts a little heat on (us) as well, but the reality is we want him to be a Leaf for a long time to come.”
New Jersey will get center Travis Zajac back in the lineup on Thursday, who suffered a pectoral muscle injury in August and will go with Cory Schneider in goal, who made 47 saves in the victory over Toronto last month.
The Leafs will start Frederik Andersen, who backed up Curtis McElhinney in Boston on Saturday and will see his first game action in almost a week.
Brian Boyle, who played 27 games for the Leafs during the regular season and playoffs, will also be in the Devils lineup. The 32-year-old center was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia during training camp, but returned this month and played seven games with his new club.
"I am fortunate, I've had to take medications, and I've been able to get them, and now I can carry on normally, day to day” Boyle said.
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