Ahead of Wednesday's 1-0 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets, the Toronto Maple Leafs found out they were going to be without Tyler Bertuzzi as his wife was giving birth to their second child. His absence gave Nicholas Robertson an opportunity to play a career-high 17:08 and help set up Auston Matthews for the OT game-winner.
With the Leafs and Jets completing their home-and-home Saturday in Winnipeg, the Buds returned to practice on Friday after having a day off yesterday and Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe made some notable changes to his lineup.
If Friday's line rushes are any indication, Ryan Reaves, who was activated from IR earlier this week remains an extra skater while Bertuzzi will return to the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. Robertson appears poised to reunite with Max Domi on the third line. Originally Calle Jarnkrok had skated on that line, but left practice early after taking a shot off the hand. As for Pontus Holmberg, who had enjoyed a brief look in the top six, he returned to the fourth line with David Kampf and Noah Gregor.
On the blueline, Keefe inserted Mark Giordano onto the third pairing with Timothy Liljegren after Gio had sat out for a pair of games, which means that T.J. Brodie and Morgan Rielly remain together and Simon Benoit will shift up to play alongside Jake McCabe once again. Conor Timmins once again finds himself in the press box with William Lagesson.
As for Bobby McMann, well, per Sheldon Keefe, McMann is scheduled to spend some time on injured reserve.
