Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs roll out a new look lineup as the team looks for momentum to move past their early season slow start.
Following a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Toronto takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets in a game that Toronto is looking to build on, and continue winning with key players still out of the lineup.
Toronto will get back forward Scott Laughton, who hasn’t played since November 8th against Boston, injured in what was his second game following a preseason injury.
Laughton skated alongside Matthews ahead of practice, although Matthews won’t play tonight vs Columbus.
Against Columbus, neither of Matthews and Knies are expected to play tonight again, leaving Toronto hoping to pull out another surprise win vs the Blue Jackets.
How the Leafs are expected to line up against the Blue Jackets tonight
Scott Laughton slides back into the lineup on the third line for a Leafs team full of changes to their lines vs Columbus.
The most striking decision made by Leafs head coach Craig Berube was moving William Nylander to the left wing, with Calle Jarnkrok moved up from the fourth line to the first at right.Nylander will play on his off-hand alongside Jarnkrok and John Tavares on the Leafs top-line, with Jarnkrok joining on the power play in a big opportunity for Jarnkrok.Elsewhere, Nick Robertson was moved down to the second line on the right wing with Bobby McMann and Max Domi.Laughton is joined on the third line by Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan, the line that showcased promise in the preseason and gets its first look of the regular season.Sammy Blais, who checked into the lineup with Knies injured, is a healthy scratch. No changes were made on the Leafs defense, with Joseph Woll making his third straight start for Toronto.
Maple Leafs projected Lines vs CBJ
Forwards
Nylander – Tavares – Jarnkrok
McMann – Domi – Robertson
Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan
Joshua – Quillan – Maccelli
Defenders
Rielly – Ekman-Larsson
Benoit – McCabe
Mermis – Stecher
Myers
What Scott Laughton’s return changes for the Leafs’ forward group
Scott Laughton adds depth to the Leafs lineup, and hopefully for Toronto some of the promise he showed in the preseason, and a physical presence on the Leafs penalty kill.
As a top performer for the Leafs during the preseason, there was some hopeful optimism that Laughton would bounce back from a rough first season in Toronto after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers with just four points in 20 games as a Leaf.
The Leafs preseason line of Lorentz-Laughton-Cowan showed strong chemistry and balance, something Toronto will be watching to see if that group can provide offense as they did in the preseason.
Previously on Hockey Patrol
POLL
20 HOURS AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 435 ANSWERS
Maple Leafs projected lineup vs Blue Jackets features several changes and a key player’s return
Who will win tonight’s game?