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The changes being implemented by the Ontario government regarding fan capacity have forced the Toronto Maple Leafs to adjust on the fly. After shifting from full capacity to 50% earlier this month, the province on Thursday went further in the wake of the rampant spread of the Omicron variant and lowered the limit in buildings to 1,000.
Statement from MLSE and the Toronto Maple Leafs following the provincial announcement today: pic.twitter.com/MDpKmOsJzq
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 31, 2021
MLSE released a statement saying the club will “transition to operating without sold tickets… for upcoming games vs. Ottawa on Saturday and Edmonton on Wednesday and that the limits are expected to be in place for up to three weeks.
Toronto heads out on a Midwest/Western road swing starting next weekend in Colorado, with stops in Vegas, Arizona, and St. Louis before returning home on January 17 to play New Jersey.
With the contest against the Devils within the three-week window, it is possible that the league could shift that contest to be a home game in the U.S. as the NHL did with a Montreal-Boston game on January 12.
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The Leafs had nearly a full lineup on the ice for practice at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, ON on Friday, as forward William Nylander, and blueliners Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin were on the ice for the first time. Timothy Liljegren is the lone player that is currently unavailable.
Morgan Rielly steps into the ice for his first practice after the pause. pic.twitter.com/kcW2YQbVzI
— David Alter (@dalter) December 31, 2021
Concerns regarding the New Year’s contest against Ottawa popped up on Thursday, as the Senators canceled practice due to precautionary reasons, but head coach DJ Smith expects the game to go on as scheduled.
Center Josh Norris and former Leaf Tyler Ennis have been placed in COVID protocol and forward Nick Paul and defenseman Dillon Heatherington were held out of practice.
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Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
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Latest @OffThePostRadio Podcast, powered by @FullPressNHL!@AnthonyMingioni, @MikeInBuffalo , & @sportsology are back in the comfort of their homes discussing Paul Maurice #GoJetsGo exit, NHL dealing with Covid + #BringItToBroad, #LeafsForever, & #NYR.https://t.co/bDGGwI9KSQ pic.twitter.com/JksxvDRpJZ
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