Leafs Make Significant Line-up Changes During Practice

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Mackenzie Stern-Kolesnikow
March 22, 2023 (5:27 PM)

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Last night the Leafs played against the Islanders in what was possibly their worst game of the season.

This was their first game of the season where they gave up 7 goals.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe has been experimenting with what lines work in anticipation of the playoffs. He certainly did not find the magical line last night.

Sheldon Keefe shakes up the lines again

#Leafs lines at practice Mar. 22/23

Jarnkrok-Matthews-Marner
Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Acciari-Lafferty
AstonReese-Kampf-Simmonds

McCabe-Brodie
Giordano-Holl
Rielly-Schenn
Liljegren-Gustafsson

In preparation for their match against the Panthers tomorrow, Keefe changed the lines again, pairing Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the first line, with Calle Jarnkrok on the left wing.

He put Michael Bunting next to John Tavares and William Nylander. These changes are important, but the most surprising changes are on the fourth line.

Sheldon Keefe changed the Noel Acciari, Zach Aston-Reese and David Kampf line. Keefe moved Acciari to the third line, playing with Sam Lafferty and Alexander Kerfoot. Wayne Simmonds was added to the fourth line.

These changes seem to imply that Bobby McMann won't be playing tomorrow

On defense, Keefe paired Luke Schenn and Morgan Rielly together. T.J. Brodie and Jake McCabe are playing together, with Mark Giordano and Justin Holl we're reunited.

Giordano and Holl did well together earlier in the season. It depends on what lineup Keefe uses tomorrow, 12/6 or 11/7, either one or both Erik Gustafsson and Timothy Liljegren might not be playing tomorrow. It is likely that Simmonds won't play for the forwards tomorrow.

Ilya Samsonov won't be playing tomorrow because his wife is due to give birth to their first child, Matt Murray and Joseph Woll will be goaltending for the remaining of their roadtrip.

As seen on Maple Leafs Daily -
Leafs shuffle lines in a big way at practice