It looks as if Toronto Maple Leafs will get one of their two key injured players back Saturday night, as center Dave Bolland is likely to return to the lineup for their critical match against the Montreal Canadiens at Air Canada Center.
“I would say he's a probable for us for tonight… Leafs coach Randy Carlyle indicated following the club’s optional morning skate. "He's progressed along over the last three weeks to a point where the doctor's feel medically that he is close to 100% ready."
Bolland has missed 56 games after suffering an ankle tendon laceration, but has been slowly increasing his on ice work to build up strength in his ankle since early February.
"When a player hasn't played in 60 games, it's a lot of ask of him to come back in and be where he would have been coming out of training camp." Carlyle said."We're looking for people to step up and (Bolland) has been a true professional since the time he has been here."
There were signs that the 27-year-old center was close to returning, as he was seen skating harder during team practices this week and took line rushes with fellow Mimico, ON native David Clarkson and Mason Raymond on Friday.
It is possible that the Leafs recent slide in the standings may have hastened the return of Bolland, who had six goals and four assists in 15 games before colliding with Vancouver’s Zack Kassian on November 2nd.
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier also took the optional skate on Saturday, but is still not fully recovered from the groin strain suffered in Los Angeles on March 13th.
"Bernier not 100% and until he's 100%, he's not available to us.… Carlyle said.
James Reimer will make his fourth start in a row for Toronto against the Canadiens, who trail Montreal by three points in the Atlantic Division standings and lost 3-2 to Columbus on Thursday.
Reimer has struggled since a wonderful 31 save performance against the Kings 9 days ago, but is only partially to blame as the club in front of him has not been able to score enough goals to cover up for their defensive flaws.
With the Leafs playing on back-to-back nights and Bernier likely not ready to play on the weekend, it is possible that Reimer will get the nod against the Canadiens and against the Devils in Newark on Sunday night.
The game is of a critical nature for Toronto, who could move to within one point of Montreal in the race for a third spot in the Atlantic Division with a regulation win, but could be at risk of being overtaken in the race for an Eastern Conference wild card spot with a loss.
Philadelphia has 81 pts and takes on St. Louis on Saturday afternoon. The New York Rangers are tied with Toronto with 80 points after a 3-1 victory in Columbus on Friday night and play the Devils in Newark Saturday night. The Blue Jackets, who beat the Habs in Montreal on Thursday have 78 points and have a Sunday matinee against the Islanders in Uniondale.
Detroit and Washington, who both trail Toronto by three points have difficult weekends in front of them, as the Wings has a home-and-home with the Minnesota Wild, while the Capitals are in San Jose on Saturday night.
Montreal has been on a roller coaster recently, losing four of five games in early March, before being handed a gift victory by the Ottawa Senators one week ago, erasing a three goal deficit in the last four minutes of regulation and winning in overtime on Francis Boullion’s first goal of the season. Wins over Buffalo and Colorado followed before losing by one goal to Columbus on a third period goal by Ryan Johansen.
Fiesty forward Brandon Prust will not be available for Montreal for the rest of the regular season after suffering a upper body injury against Colorado on Tuesday, defenseman Josh Gorges is also out until mid-April after having surgery on his hand.
Carey Price will make his third start in row for Montreal.
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