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Matthews returns in Music City; Leafs vs Predators |
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The Toronto Maple Leafs injured list is shrinking with just over two weeks left in the regular season, as center Auston Matthews and defenseman Nikita Zaitsev make their return against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.
Matthews has been out since February 22 after suffering a Grade 2 shoulder separation against the New York Islanders. The 20-year-old has been skating with teammates for more than a week and has been anxious to get back in the lineup, but the Leafs allowed the Calder Trophy winner to fully heal with little consequence left in the regular season.
“You’re pretty excited to play when you’re gone for a bit.” Matthews said on Thursday. “It’s the same thing, I’m pretty excited to get back in the lineup and do my thing.”
Zaitsev has not played up to expectations this season and appeared slow after missing six weeks with a foot injury. The 26-year-old blueliner has been out since March 5 with a severe case of the flu.
Toronto will be looking to recover from an incomplete effort in Tampa on Tuesday, building a 3-0 lead in the second period and surrendering four unanswered goals to lose to the Eastern Conference leading Lightning.
“We thought we played real well in Tampa for two periods and stopped playing.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said after the morning skate. ”So to me, here’s an opportunity against a real good team to measure yourself to get better and take a step in the right direction.”
Nashville leads the NHL with 106 points and have gone 9-0-1 in their last 10 games in hopes of beating Tampa Bay for the President’s Trophy and home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
With players returning, the Leafs forward lines and defensive pairings will return to a more familiar look. William Nylander will move from center to right wing and Zach Hyman will shift to the left side with Matthews playing up the middle.
Andreas Johnsson will move back to the fourth line with Tomas Plekanec and Kasperi Kapanen and Josh Leivo will be a healthy scratch. Zaitsev will replace Connor Carrick in the Leafs lineup and pair with Jake Gardiner, while veteran Roman Polak shifts to the bottom pairing with rookie Travis Dermott.
Frederik Andersen and Pekka Rinne will be the goaltending matchup in Nashville. Andersen allowed four goals in 25 shots in the loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Rinne is making a late charge at a Vezina Trophy, with a 40-9-4 record, 2.21 GAA and .931 save percentage for the Preds.
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The Maple Leafs have brought another of their draft picks in on a tryout contract before having to make a decision on whether to sign them to an entry-level deal before they become unrestricted free agents in the summer.
Earlier this month, the Toronto Marlies signed 2015 draft pick Jesper Lindgren to an amateur tryout contract and on Wednesday, the club did the same with 2014 draftee Pierre Engvall.
Lindgren played three years with MODO in the SHL and this season with HRK in the Finnish SM-Liiga. Engvall has 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 31 games in his first full SHL season with HV71 and one goal in the SHL Playoffs.
It is unknown how much action either Swede will see with the Marlies, but the Leafs AHL affiliate have clinched a playoff spot and have a seven-point lead in the North Division, which means that both could get an audition with a dozen games to go in the AHL season.
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