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Much Needed Reinforcements For Marlies, Zohorna Recalled

March 31, 2023, 8:45 PM ET [27 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs move closer to the end of the regular season with three games in four nights, starting with a rematch with the Ottawa Senators in Kanata on Saturday on the heels of an exciting 5-4 shootout win on March 18. The Leafs will return home on Sunday to face the Detroit Red Wings and then take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, using up one of their games in hand on Tampa Bay.

The Lightning moved to within four points of Toronto with a 5-1 victory over Washington on Thursday, but the Leafs have two games in hand going into the weekend.

The news prior to the club leaving for Ottawa was the absence of winger Wayne Simmonds from practice at Ford Performance Centre. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said after practice that Simmonds was sick and that his status for Saturday was up in the air, prompting the Leafs to call up forward Radim Zohorna on an emergency basis.

Zohorna was acquired by Toronto on deadline day from Calgary for winger Dryden Hunt and has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in six games for the AHL Toronto Marlies. His status for Saturday will depend on whether Simmonds will be able to go.

Ryan O’Reilly participated in practice wearing a non-contact jersey, but the indicators are that the Leafs will be patient with the veteran forward and not risk re-injury of his broken finger.

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The Toronto Marlies are a lock for top spot in the AHL’s North Division and are getting some much-needed help as Leafs prospects playing in the NCAA, KHL, SHL, and Finnish SM-Liiga are free to join the Marlies after their college or European commitments have been completed.

Earlier this month, the Leafs signed Toronto-native Ryan Tverberg to a three-year entry-level contract and the 21-year-old has played in four games. Fellow 2020 draftee Dmitry Ovchinnikov has returned for his second stint with the club after playing 68 KHL games with Novosibirsk Sibir this season.

Defensive prospect Topi Niemela completed his season with Karpat being eliminated from the playoffs this week. The 21-year-old should get some playing time in the final two weeks of the regular season and could play for the Marlies in the Calder Cup Playoffs. 2022 draftee Dennis Hildeby fresh off a solid season with Farjestads (2.26 GAA, 11-9-0, .918 save %) is also joining the club but will be behind Joseph Woll and Erik Kallgren on the depth chart.

2020 second-round pick Roni Hirvonen had a career-high 15 goals with HIFK Helsinki and is also expected to head to North America once his season in Finland is over, along with other prospects in the CHL whose teams have been eliminated.


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