The Toronto Maple Leafs roll out new lines ahead of today's game against the Washington Capitals.
Coming into Washington in a rare 5:00p.m. game for Toronto, the Leafs are looking to take some momentum from their previous win against Columbus after a slow season start.
Toronto currently sits with a 10-10-3, looking to get back to being a winning team and re-emerge in the playoff hunt, but with a big absence.
After William Nylander was out yesterday from practice for what was reported to be "maintenance reasons", Nylander is confirmed to be out for today's game.
It is not clear if Nylander's absence is related to yesterday's maintenance day, with Head Coach Craig Berube saying that Nylander woke up ill this morning, with his status for tomorrow's game vs Pittsburgh unclear.
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How the Maple Leafs are expected to line up without William Nylander
Craig Berube said that if William Nylander was playing, that Max Domi would be a healthy scratch. Domi slotted in Nylander's spot on the second line in practice yesterday.
In a late move prior to warmups, Max Domi was listed as scratched for Matias Maccelli, who slots into the third line tonight with Bobby McMann moved up to the second line.
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In net, Joseph Woll makes his sixth consecutive start for Toronto in net, having started every game since returning from a leave of absence for personal reasons prior to the start of the season.
Woll could get a break after tonight, setting up Dennis Hildeby to make the start tomorrow vs Pittsburgh in the back-to-back.
Projected Toronto Maple Leafs Lines vs Washington
Forwards:
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Nick Robertson
Easton Cowan - John Tavares - Bobby McMann
Matias Maccelli - Nicolas Roy - Dakota Joshua
Steven Lorentz - Scott Laughton - Calle Jarnkrok
Defenders:
Morgan Rielly - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit - Jake McCabe
Dakota Mermis - Troy Stecher
Goaltender:
Joseph Woll (Starter)
Dennis Hildeby
Tonight could be an important chance for Nick Robertson and Dakota Joshua
Today's game is an opportunity for two players in Nick Robertson and Dakota Joshua.
Robertson will be looking to generate some offense tonight after going pointless in his last four games after having 11 points in his first 18 games with Toronto.
After being a healthy scratch, Dakota Joshua will want to showcase that he should remain in the Leafs lineup full time.