William Nylander gets the green light as a healthy scratch returns to the Maple Leafs lineup
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
A forward comes out of the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs as William Nylander is set to play following a rest day.
William Nylander is confirmed by Leafs head coach Craig Berube to be playing tomorrow against the Washington Capitals.
The news comes as Nylander was not with the team during practice, having been ruled out for maintenance reasons, without confirmation if Nylander was the absence was precautionary or routine.
Having regained Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies for the Leafs top-six from injury, as well as third line center Nicolas Roy, the Leafs avoid any further questions with Nylander and keeps their forward group intact with their recent lineup returns.
Why Craig Berube turned back to his recently scratched forward
Craig Berube has returned Dakota Joshua into the Leafs lineup, confirming to reporters that the winger will play Friday against Washington.
Joshua was a healthy scratch for Toronto's previous game on Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, with Berube insisting that he wanted to see more out of Joshua.
Having been acquired in the offseason, Joshua was a player expected to provide some offense and intensity to the Leafs bottom-six, but has struggled offensively with just five points in 22 games.
Berube had made it clear to Dakota Joshua that he wants to see more out of the 29-year-old that he spent two seasons coaching in St. Louis.
How the Maple Leafs are expected to line up against the Capitals
Max Domi took William Nylander's spot in practice. With William Nylander confirmed for the Leafs against Washington, that status of Domi is unclear.
Domi has three goals and six points in 23 games this season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Currently, Toronto hasn't named their healthy scratch.
Dakota Joshua slots back onto the Leafs third line next to Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann, with Domi on the second line with John Tavares and Easton Cowan.
On defense, Brandon Carlo returned to the Leafs lineup for his first skate with the team in nearly two weeks, having been out with a lower-body injury.
It's unclear if Carlo will play against Washington, however, as he practiced on the fourth pair for Toronto, indicating he isn't currently slotted in for Friday's game, but could be available the game after Saturday vs Pittsburgh instead.
In net, Joseph Woll appears poised to make his sixth consecutive start of the season with Dennis Hildeby once again backing him up.
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