Toronto Maple Leafs making two last-minute changes to Game 6 lineup
The Toronto Maple Leafs are searching for a spark to keep their season alive.
On Friday night, they’re down to the wire against the Florida Panthers, with a win needed in Game 6 of their second-round playoff series to continue fighting on this spring.
After taking a 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Toronto has now dropped three straight contests.
Prior to a devastating 6-1 Game 5 loss that pushed the Leafs to the brink of elimination, Toronto head coach Craig Berube opted to insert David Kampf and Nick Robertson into the Leafs’ lineup.
Robertson actually found a bit of success, scoring his first goal of the playoffs, but appears to have been lifted out of the lineup for Friday’s Game 6, as has Kampf.
Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok return to action for Toronto, with the Leafs opting for a pretty similar lineup to what they’ve run most of the playoffs so far.
Per The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel, here is what Toronto’s forward group is looking like at Friday morning’s skate:
- Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
- Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-William Nylander
- Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Max Pacioretty
- Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
While much has been made about the Leafs’ top star, Auston Matthews, and his inability to score in the series so far, he’s not the only Toronto forward who has been struggling offensively.
So far, 10 Leafs forwards have scored two goals or fewer in the playoffs, with five being held completely goalless. Of Toronto’s 33 goals so far in the postseason, nearly half — 16 — have come from Nylander, Tavares, or Knies.
For the 11th straight playoff game, Toronto will be trotting out these defensive pairs:
- Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev
- Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo
- Simon Benoit – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Joseph Woll will get his fifth straight start, with Dennis Hildeby the expected backup.
With no other NHL games on the docket for tonight, puck drop is set for 8 p.m. EDT.
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