Maple Leafs shuffle defensive pairs as Brodie slots into the lineup

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Tom Banks
April 26, 2024 (2:42 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs questions on the blue line have continued through three playoff games thus far, and now they've made a big time change.

With so many questions around William Nylander, the Maple Leafs blue line questions have gone overlooked, but ahead of game four in a must-win scenario, they've made a huge change. According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet, veteran TJ Brodie is slotting into the lineup ahead of the pivotal game four.

Keefe said the Leafs will make a call on Nylander tomorrow (all signs point to yes). Daddy Lyubushkin is already en route back to Toronto from California and will be available to play. Pencil in Brodie for his series debut. Matthews getting his energy back after illness.

With Ilya Lyubushkin welcoming his first child into the world, he's been absent from the team, with Brodie once again finding his way back into the lineup alongside veteran Joel Edmundson at Friday's practice.

#Leafs lines during practice Apr. 26/24

Bertuzzi-Dewar*-Domi
Knies-Tavares-Marner
Nylander-Holmberg-Jarnkrok
Robertson-Kampf-Reaves
Extra: Gregor
*Matthews absent (maintenance)

Rielly-Liljegren*
Benoit-McCabe
Edmundson-Brodie
Webber, Timmins, Giordano
*Lyubushkin absent (parental)

Samsonov, Woll, Jones

With Nylander expected to return to the lineup, there's some major boosts on the way for Toronto, and with the team looking to avoid a 3-1 hole as they head back to Boston, this could be the change that sparks a run this post-season.