The Toronto Maple Leafs embark on another set of back-to-back games, starting on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday. The clubs each won in a shootout on the road last month; Toronto winning 4-3 on November 2 and Philadelphia winning 3-2 at Scotiabank Arena on November 9.
The Leafs lost winger Mitch Marner to an ankle injury in that game and after practicing on Monday, it is expected that they will get their two-time leading scorer back in the lineup this week, but not for the rubber match between the two Eastern Conference foes. The activation of Marner (which could come as soon as Wednesday against Colorado) will likely necessitate GM Kyle Dubas to make a number of moves to cut the roster down to as low as 21 players to fit the winger’s $10.893 Million salary under the cap once it comes off of long-term injured reserve.
Toronto took the first step in clearing space by placing forward Nick Shore on waivers. Shore, 27, scored three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 21 games for the Leafs, playing mostly as a fourth line center/face-off specialist and penalty killer, but was thought of more as a “heavy-hockey” specialist conducive to former head coach Mike Babcock’s style of play.
The Leafs and Flyers went to the shootout in the first two meetings this season.
With the club going on the road, the Leafs recalled defenseman Martin Marincin to serve as an extra defenseman for the upcoming road trip through Western Canada. If the indicators that Dubas plans on reducing the roster to 21 are true, then it is possible that the Leafs will carry just 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies.
Nic Petan has cleared waivers twice and can be sent down to the Marlies without having to clear again. Pierre Engvall has played well since being recalled to replace the injured Trevor Moore two weeks ago, but he is waiver exempt and could return without fear of being claimed by another team.
Jason Spezza has been a solid and consistent contributor since the switch from Babcock to Sheldon Keefe, with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in his last six games, and is likely a fit as the fourth line center, which would force Dubas to place both Dmytro Timashov and Frederik Gauthier on waivers when both Marner and Moore.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated on Monday that Frederik Andersen will make the start in Philadelphia and that backup Michael Hutchinson will go against the Avalanche at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
With Marner not playing, the Leafs will likely keep their power play and line combinations the same as they were against Buffalo on Saturday, with Zach Hyman playing with John Tavares and Ilya Mikheyev, but once Marner returns he is expected to take his normal spot with Tavares and Mikheyev, with Hyman moving to the third line with Alex Kerfoot and Kasperi Kapanen.
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