BUFFALO — And now for something completely different.
The Toronto Maple Leafs (3-3-1), who are down half of their top four and are overhauling their top six, will dress a lineup Friday in Buffalo that hardly resembles the one that got run over by the New Jersey Devils three days ago.
Shutdown defenceman Chris Tanev (upper body) left Tuesdayâ€s loss early after taking a knock to the head and has been placed on injured reserve.
Top offensive defenceman Morgan Rielly (undisclosed) was also injured that night. He skipped practice Wednesday and Thursday but did take part, albeit briefly, in Fridayâ€s optional morning skate in Buffalo. He is a possibility to play Saturday.
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In the meantime, journeyman lefty Dakota Mermis was recalled from the Marlies, and righty Philippe Myers (a healthy scratch for Torontoâ€s first seven games) have been tapped to fill the void, and all three defence pairings will be tweaked.
“We all got to help out, right? I mean, simplify your game. And Buffalo is a good offensive team. Theyâ€re a good rush team, so they got a lot of skill,†coach Craig Berube said at KeyBank Center. “Guys are going to have to help out — five-man units and simplify the game.â€
If the changes on the back end werenâ€t enough, Berube is also mixing up all four forward lines in an attempt to nip the Leafs†losing skid in the bud.
Centre Auston Matthews will be gifted the clubâ€s best right wing and leading scorer, William Nylander, while the speedy, aggressive Bobby McMann earns a promotion to the top unit.
“They know each other well,†explained Berube, who had been bumping Nylander up for extra shifts already. “They do their thing, right? Theyâ€re good players. And Bobby McMann is playing well right now. I’ve liked Bobby throughout the season. So far, he’s skating well. He’s on pucks, physical. I just really like his speed on that line, so I think they’re gonna be fine.â€
Berube wants that trio to dominate in the Sabres†end of the rink.
“J.T. is a guy that, really, when you get a territorial game in the offensive zone with him, thatâ€s where he does his work, right? Heâ€s so heavy on pucks and strong, and he makes little subtle plays. And scores goals inside that slot area,†said Berube, a man in search of a spark. “With Knies, he can get in there and help on the forecheck and be strong on pucks. And Maccelli, his game’s getting better, in my opinion. He’s starting to see the ice better and making some plays.â€
The changes donâ€t stop there.
Max Domi returns to centre the fourth line after a brief tryout on Matthews†wing.
Nick Robertson (no goals, one assist) will serve his first healthy scratch of the season, as rookie Easton Cowan jumps back into the lineup — this time in a more defensive third-line role.
“I really like that young energy in there. Just, heâ€s got to be managing the puck. Obviously, he’s playing with two big guys (Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua) that are going to be around the net, and they’re going to be heavy,†Berube said.
“He’s just got to make sure he does a good job with the puck and plays with energy.â€
The only familiar thing about the Maple Leafs†lineup Friday?
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz starts, against Buffaloâ€s Alex Lyon, one of the three goaltenders the home side is carrying.
Stolarz is undefeated against the Sabres, boasting a career record of 4-0-1 and a .963 save percentage.
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup Friday in Buffalo:
McMann – Matthews – Nylander
Knies – Tavares – Maccelli
Joshua – Roy – Cowan
Lorentz – Domi – Järnkrok
Benoit – McCabe
Ekman-Larsson – Myers
Mermis – Carlo
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