Maple Leafs Lineup and Power Play Units Revealed for Game One
PUBLICATION
Wade Messier
April 16, 2023 (3:52 PM)
The Maple Leafs highly anticipated playoff match-up against the Tampa Bay Lightning is rapidly approaching, and we now know what their lines as well as both power play units will look like.
Knies Scratched, Järnkrok on the 4th line, O'Reilly on PP1
Sheldon Keefe has a reputation for constantly juggling his lines, which is always met with mixed reaction by fans. With little time left before the opening round of the playoffs starts, Keefe must make sure his roster is exactly how it needs to be in order to win.
Many fans have accused Keefe of playing favorites with his lineups, and when you take a look at some of the combinations he's put together, you may start to get that feeling as well. Not only has rookie Matthew Knies been scratched, but Calle Järnkrok has been stuck on the 4th line, and Mike Reilly is curretly on the 3rd defensive pair.
More interestingly, however, are the power play units Keefe will likely be icing for game 1. It looks like Keefe will be throwing as much firepower as he can onto PP1, while Nylander is forced to play on a less talented PP2 unit.
You're welcome to speculate as to what went into these odd lineup decisions, but one thing is clear. Keefe doesn't have a solidified lineup and he's running out of time to find one.
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