Two Leafs Forwards Forced Out of the Lineup Ahead of Matchup Vs. the Lightning
The return of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies has led to two Maple Leafs forwards needing to be taken out for their spots.
With the highly anticipated return of Auston Matthews to the lineup after 9 games and Matthew Knies after missing the last two, that means that two players need to be taken out in order to make room. Per David Alter of The Hockey News on X, both Alex Nylander and Nick Robertson have been removed for Saturday's game.
Also goaltender Joseph Woll is expected to get the start as Anthony Stolarz took part in the optional skate, meaning he was eschewing practice for a bit more conditioning and leading to Woll starting tonight presumably unless something drastic happens.
Woll in net is a very solid option for Toronto, as he's won 4 in a row and sits at 5-2-0 on the year with a 2.00 GAA and .922 SV% and looked every bit the starter they envisioned after extending him this summer.
After their most recent loss against Florida, Toronto is more than happy to get Knies and Matthews back. It's important for not only the Maple Leafs to make a statement but for both players to get into a rhythm again quickly.
Matthews has been off to a slow start this season before he ended up on the IR, only having 5 goals in 13 games before landing on the shelf. After a trip to Germany to speak to a specialist, he believes his injury is behind him and he can back to his dominant ways.
Knies was in the midst of breaking out even moreso than last year, as he was on pace to smash his last season goal total of 15, and has looked like the star power forward Toronto has needed for years.
He ended up on the IR after receiving this nasty hit from Zach Whitecloud.
Why Nick Robertson and Alex Nylander Were Removed
It's not surprising given that Robertson has done nothing of note this season, and Nylander was called up on a more emergency basis.
Robertson being taken out doesn't hurt the Maple Leafs and they would much rather have their captain and star power forward as opposed to someone who has no production and offers no other skills; no defense, no penalty kill, nothing.
So far, Robertson has one goal and no assists.
There have been several talks about Robertson being on the outs, and even analysts are saying if he can't get into a spot, then there's no chance he sticks around.
Nylander being taken out is less of a shock, and he didn't make a huge impact on the ice, but was decent in a short showing. It was a great story to see both William and Alex playing together, but it didn't necessarily translate to a full-time gig.
Nylander did not register a point in the two games he played for the Maple Leafs.
Toronto looks to get their momentum back on track against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night as Toronto tries to retake first in the Atlantic Division.
As always, Craig Berube is known for making last-minute decisions so we'll see if this sticks.
Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Update
As a last minute lineup decision (one that Craig Berube is known for), Alex Nylander and Nick Robertson are playing vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning in a last-minute lineup change. It was a brazen last-minute decision that ended up paying off for Toronto as Robertson got back on the scoresheet.
Toronto currently leads Tampa Bay 4-0 as they look to rebound against a 5-1 Florida Panthers loss on Wednesday.
FAQ: Two Leafs Players Removed To Make Way For Returning Matthews and Knies
Q1: Which two players were scratched for Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies?
A1: The two players who were scratched for Matthews and Knies were Nick Robertson and Alex Nylander.
However both men were last-minute additions right before the end of the game.
Q2: How many games did Auston Matthews miss?
A2: Auston Matthews missed 9 games due to an upper-body injury, and is playing for the first time since the end of October.
| POLL | ||
Will Matthew Knies or Auston Matthews score against Tampa Bay? | ||
| Yes | 429 | 85.3 % |
| No | 74 | 14.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
