For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs get back into action on Tuesday, in the first of four straight on the road against the Dallas Stars. After getting a five-day breather and the four-day respite for All-Star weekend in January, the Leafs face an exhausting schedule of 35 games in February, March and early April.
The club assembled for practice minus All-Star Auston Matthews in Etobicoke, ON on Monday and injured defenseman Morgan Rielly and forward Ben Smith both participated.
Rielly has missed five games with a lower body injury (in which Toronto went 2-2-1) and skated with regular partner Nikita Zaitsev at the MasterCard Center.
GM Lou Lamoriello, Asst. GM Mark Hunter and a large contingent of the #Leafs scouting staff at the CHL Top Prospects game in Quebec City. pic.twitter.com/ZSWhkW89ET
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) January 31, 2017
“It felt good. I had a chance to skate over the break while the team was on the road.I (did) lots of maintenance here with the training staff. Rielly said. “I want to do just about everything I can to come back as soon as possible, so whatever that is I’ll do.…
The Leafs defenseman’s return is contingent on how his injury reacts to a full practice on Tuesday morning. With Rielly participating, veteran Matt Hunwick was moved down to the fourth pairing with Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin took Hunwick’s spot on the third pair and penalty-killing unit with Roman Polak.
Smith replaced Matthews in between Connor Brown and Zack Hyman at practice and is close to being ready to return according to head coach Mike Babcock. When healthy, the Leafs will have to make a roster move, which could mean the return of rookie Frederik Gauthier to the AHL Toronto Marlies.
*******
Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen was named NHL Third Star of the week on Monday.
Andersen registered his second and third shutouts of the season in 4-0 victories over Calgary and Detroit last week. After a slow start in October, the 27-year-old has rebounded and has a 21-10-8 record, 2.55 GAA and .921 save percentage in 39 games.
*******
Listen to this week’s Blue N’ White Tonight podcast, with TSN Radio's Leafs Lunch host Andi Petrillo as our special guest.
Andi drops by to talk about everything that lead to her becoming Canada's first female daily Sports Radio host and share her views on the Toronto Maple Leafs both past and present.
*******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.******* KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.