Projected Maple Leafs lineup vs. Vegas as Toronto prepares to face Mitch Marner

In their first game against the Vegas Golden Knights since the sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to Vegas, Toronto is playing one of the most anticipated matches of the season for the Leafs.

While the Leafs home game in eight days will likely have more emotion with what will be the response from Leafs fans to their former forward, Toronto's game tonight is a major watch.

The Golden Knights, coming off a 3-2 win to the Los Angeles Kings yesterday, are expected to have Adin Hill back tonight as the starter coming off of injured reserve.

Vegas sits in first place in the Pacific Division, holding a 22-11-12 record along with 56 points on the season. Marner has 11 goals, 36 assists, & 47 points in 45 games this season for the Golden Knights.

On Toronto's end, immediate speculation was had after forward Matthew Knies was absent earlier in the afternoon for the Leafs practice.

Knies, who was on the Leafs third line against Utah on Tuesday, was not given a reason for not being on the ice, but head coach Craig Berube said his absence was for maintenence reasons.

Toronto haven't revealed who would be coming out of the lineup if Knies plays, with all indications being that he will, but with Nick Robertson returning from a one-game absence, the likely player on the sidelines would be Calle Jarnkrok, who came in against the Mammoth in place of Robertson.

The Leafs defense remains untouched, with Joseph Woll getting the start in net after Dennis Hildeby started in Toronto's 6-1 loss to Utah, a game Woll did not appear in.

McMann - Matthews - Domi
Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan - Roy - Robertson
Lorentz - Laughton - Jarnkrok

Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Stecher

Woll (Starter)
Hildeby

(Note: Matthew Knies is confirmed in the lineup against the Golden Knights, but his exact status will be known closer to game time.)

The Leafs have a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games against Vegas, but Woll will be looking for a positive rebound performance, having been pulled in his start vs the Knights after giving up three goals on seven shots.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Former Maple Leafs defenseman signs a new deal outside the NHL