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The Leafs are back on the ice today after a day of rest following a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Today, they’re in Vancouver.
It’s been an unfortunate week for the NHL, as COVID-19 cases increased throughout the league. Many teams are getting hit hard, especially the Calgary Flames, who the Leafs were supposed to face tonight.
COVID has also hit the Canucks — the team Toronto is supposed to play on Saturday.
As of right now, four players are out for Vancouver, as well as one of their assistant coaches. The team is in San Jose for their scheduled game tonight against the Sharks.
I’m not going to lie — this serves up an interesting question. Will the Leafs play the Canucks on Saturday night?
You would think so at this point if Vancouver is travelling to San Jose. However, the Omicron variant can spread quickly. The NHL did put new protocols in place to make it safer, but there’s still the chance it can spread.
And for the Leafs, they’ve been a team that hasn’t had one case in-season. Like every team, you’d like to keep it that way. Hopefully, they and the rest of the NHL can.
Leafs lines in practice in Vancouver
Here’s how the Leafs’ lines shaped up in practice at UBC today.
Looks as though Nick Ritchie will re-enter the Leafs lineup on Saturday.
Practice lines:
Bunting — Matthews — Kase
Kerfoot — Tavares — Nylander
Ritchie — Kampf — Mikheyev
Clifford — Engvall — SimmondsRielly — Brodie
Muzzin — Liljegren
Dermott — Holl— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) December 16, 2021
Nick Ritchie has returned after missing the last game in Edmonton with a non-COVID-related illness. Jason Spezza is still the odd man out of the lineup due to his suspension.
Yes, he’s still waiting to hear back from Gary Bettman on his appeal.
One player that’s missing is Brett Seney. After Tuesday’s game vs. the Oilers, Sheldon Keefe said Seney might have suffered a fractured finger in the game.
Keefe confirmed that it's the pinky finger that prevented Seney from practising today. A mix between a fracture and cut. They'll continue to monitor it.
— David Alter (@dalter) December 16, 2021
Everything else seems status quo. Travis Dermott paired alongside Justin Holl, while Timothy Liljegren is up with Jake Muzzin. Ritchie is back on the third line with David Kampf and Ilya Mikheyev. The two goalies are Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek.
Keefe says Campbell will get the start against Vancouver, and Mrázek will likely get the second in Seattle.
Jack Campbell starts Saturday in Vancouver. Expectation is Mrazek Sunday.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) December 16, 2021
The Leafs power play
One of the biggest positives this season is what Spencer Carbery has done with the Leafs’ power play. Here’s how the two units shaped up at practice today.
Leafs PP units at practice Dec. 16/21
Tavares
Nylander-Kase-Matthews
Rielly
Simmonds
Engvall-Bunting-Mikheyev
Muzzin— David Alter (@dalter) December 16, 2021
One quick note regarding the units is that Ritchie isn’t in his usual spot on the second power-play unit.
In their last six games, Toronto’s power play is scoring at 52.4%. Over the entire season so far, the Leafs are only behind the Oilers for the best PP in the league. Edmonton’s power play has a 31% success rate, and Toronto is right behind at 30.5%.
The Leafs have 11 power-play goals in their last six games.
What’s stunning to me is that at this point of the season last year, Toronto had a power-play running at 29.9%. It didn’t feel like that last year, but it looks like it’s taken another step this season.
But it will be the Vancouver Canucks who’ll get the chance to stop the Leafs’ surging power play on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7 PM ET.
More must-reads:
- Hurricanes restrict ticket sales for series against Rangers
- Watch: Stars, Golden Knights trade goals in first period of Game 5
- The 'AP First-Team All-Pro tight ends' quiz
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