Toronto Maple Leafs reveal Game 2 lines vs. Florida Panthers
The Toronto Maple Leafs are sticking to the script for Game 2.
Up 1-0 in their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, the Leafs hit the ice Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena for a pre-game morning skate.
While Toronto head coach Craig Berube had tinkered with Toronto’s lineup a little in their first seven games of the playoffs, they’re betting on consistency to try to give them a 2-0 series lead tonight.
Monday night’s opener provided plenty of drama, but the Leafs eked out a 5-4 victory after initially holding as much as a 4-1 lead.
As per TSN’s Mark Masters, the Leafs seem to be trotting out the same forward lines and defensive pairings that they had for a 5-4 victory in Game 1.
Here’s how the forward group shakes out:
- Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
- Max Pacioretty-John Tavares-William Nylander
- Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
- Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Pontus Holmberg
And here’s what the defencemen look like:
- Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev
- Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
- Simon Benoit – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The biggest change for the Leafs comes in net, with Joseph Woll taking over the crease for Anthony Stolarz.
As you likely know by now, Stolarz was removed from Game 1 following a puck to the head and a collision with Florida forward Sam Bennett, and was later transported to a local hospital via stretcher. No timeline has been given for his return.
Despite the fervour circling around Bennett’s lack of discipline on the play, either by way of a penalty or a suspension or a fine from the league, Berube isn’t planning on looking for any retribution without a cause.
“We have to focus on the game and play the game the way we need to play it,” he told reporters at Tuesday’s practice.
Through seven playoff games, the Leafs have gone 5-2, scoring 3.43 goals a night while allowing 2.86.
After the two games in Toronto, the two teams will head south, where they face off Friday and Sunday for the third and fourth games of the series in Sunrise, Florida.