The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice today following a perfect road trip that saw them extend their winning streak to seven games. At their first practice in a week, the Leafs welcomed back Mark Giordano as well as Joseph Woll. Calle Jarnkrok was present for the pre-practice skate, but departed before line rushes began.
Jarnkrok, who has been out for over a month with a broken knuckle, is getting closer to a return, with head coach Sheldon Keefe confirming that the target for his return to full practice is at some point next week. Giordano, on the other hand, was paired on the third pairing with William Lagesson as Timothy Liljegren was absent from practice. Giordano will play, per Keefe, if Liljegren cannot go tomorrow. However, if Liljegren does play, it will be Gio who sits on Tuesday.
Keefe shuffled his other pairings as well in Liljegren's absence. He moved Simon Benoit up to the second pair, alongside Morgan Rielly and had T.J. Brodie skating alongside Jake McCabe on the top pair. Keefe left the forward lines intact, but with the return of Jarnkrok on the horizon, he will be forced to make some difficult decisions over the course of the next week.
Perhaps the most interesting development at practice was the fact that Martin Jones was not present, but Woll was one of the two goalies on the ice with the main group. Keefe did not confirm whether or not Woll would make his return tomorrow night, nor did he suggest that Woll would be activated tomorrow. If he is not, then Jones appears to be in line to back up Samsonov once again.
