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One of the most miraculous things about the Toronto Maple Leafs success this season has been their ability to win consistently with many of their key players injured. The Leafs are 23-8-6 in spite of long stretches without both goaltenders and three of their most experienced defensemen. When the Leafs take on the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, they will have their healthiest lineup since opening night.
"I just expect us to keep playing the way that we have and not look to other people," Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the club's morning skate on Tuesday. "The strength of our team and how we were able to have such a strong November and December, our team game has really carried us through. Sometimes, there's a natural tendency to look to others, especially we've got some really good players at both forward and defense, but when we really pulled together and relied upon our team game to carry us and then have individual performances push through within that, that's what's given us the greatest chance of success."
Defenseman Morgan Rielly made his return from a knee injury in Arizona last Thursday after missing five weeks and on Tuesday, Rasmus Sandin will be back in the lineup after missing four games with a neck injury.
"It's big, obviously Rasmus is a big part of our group on our back end." Rielly said, "He moves the puck well, and skates well. He's been working hard to get back, so it's nice to get him."
After playing with Timothy Liljegren in the loss to the Coyotes and win over Colorado on Saturday, Rielly will return to the familiar partnership with TJ Brodie, while Liljegren slots in with Sandin.
"(TJ is a) great player (and) very good defensively," Rielly said. "We've had a chance to play together in the past (and) we're pretty comfortable with one another, so hopefully we can help each other out. We are getting back into a rhythm."
Ilya Samsonov (11-3-0, 2.20 GAA, .920 save %), who made 30 saves in the overtime victory against the Blues a week ago, will make the start and hope to remain unbeaten on home ice (9-0-0 so far at Scotiabank Arena).
The Blues will be without team captain Ryan O’Reilly (broken foot) and winger Vladimir Tarasenko (hand injury), who were both placed in injured reserve on Monday, and Jordan Binnington (13-12-3, 3.16 GAA, .896 save %) will be in goal for St. Louis.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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