Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter After a day away from the ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs practiced at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, ON, and once again the Leafs are experimenting with different line combinations. In Game 3 of the Team Matthews vs. Andersen scrimmage on the weekend, head coach Sheldon Keefe put together a super line of John Tavares, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner, moved William Nylander from wing to center and promoted Travis Dermott to the top pairing with Morgan Rielly. On Tuesday, Zach Hyman returned to the ice alongside Matthews and Marner after missing two days after blocking a shot, Nylander moved back to the wing alongside Tavares and Ilya Mikheyev, 18-year-old Nick Robertson took the spot of Pierre Engvall with Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen, while the fourth line of Kyle Clifford, Frederik Gauthier and Jason Spezza remained intact. With a difficult challenge against the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead, Keefe will need to use every trick in his bag to get past John Tortorella’s crew, including putting his top two centers on the ice at the same time or taking advantage of a line matchup.
"I'm usually just getting a feel for what's happening in the game, (the) energy levels of the players, (or situations) like icings, TV timeouts. Anytime you really have an opportunity to reset your lines and (keep) guys (on the ice who) are fresh. We're just kind of looking to do that and try to build some positive momentum." Keefe said. "It's no secret that we've got really good offensive players, so we do have lots of opportunities there. That's a nice thing as a coach, that's why we're looking to try different things and make guys comfortable, make them aware and remind them that things could change at any time and to be comfortable with that. I see (a) benefit with (that). It keeps the opposition on their toes, but most importantly, it just gives our guys a boost and it's a change that can get things going. It's on me to manage that and make sure that I pick the right spots and then I don't overdo it."
Ok wait. THIS is even more ridiculous 😱 https://t.co/4wL7SASugb pic.twitter.com/iKx2UGP25K
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Robertson hints, the Leafs hide
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