Leafs make several notable lineup changes ahead of Game 3

Before departing for Tampa yesterday, Sheldon Keefe said the Leafs' coaching staff had made no decisions regarding the team's lineup for Game 3, but it was evident that there were going to be some changes. While their physical presence has been needed and established, bad penalties from Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford have put the Leafs in bad positions in both games so far.

In Game 1 the Leafs had to kill Clifford's 5 minute major early in the game, while 2 penalties by Simmonds in game 2 led to powerplay goals from Tampa. Keefe was not pleased with any of the penalties and noted the Leafs need to stay out of the box. With that being said, the Leafs took to the ice for practice this morning with some new look lines:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner

Nylander-Tavares-Anderson*


Mikheyev-Kampf-Kerfoot

Engvall-Blackwell-Spezza

*Filling in for Kase

Rielly-Lyubushkin

Muzzin-Brodie

Giordano-Holl

Sandin-Liljegren (extras)

Kase was absent from practice for a personal matter but he is apparently going to be available tonight meaning he will skate alongside the reunited Tavares and Nylander. Additionally, Spezza will be drawing back into the lineup tonight as Keefe is opting to go for a more skilled lineup than physical, and for good reason. Spezza, who had 5 points against Montreal last year will add some much needed skill to the second PP unit. Both units have been horrible, going just 1/10 so far, but the second unit lacks someone with Spezza's skill set.

Unfortunately, the time has come for Holl to be inserted into the lineup in place of Liljegren. Liljegren has not played poorly through 2 games, and this seems to just be Keefe wanting to change things up a bit. Hopefully Holl has a decent game for once, as he's playing on the third pair alongside Giordano. His minutes will be minimal and he won't be playing against Tampa's top players too much so that should benefit his game.