The Maple Leafs have just one power-play goal in their last 24 opportunities.
The Maple Leafs have just one power-play goal in their last 24 opportunities.
PHILADELPHIA — The Toronto Maple Leafs will unveil a new look on the power play when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday.
During their practice on Monday, the Leafs removed defenseman Morgan Rielly from the top unit and replaced him with Tyler Bertuzzi, while keeping right-handed Timothy Liljegren as the lone defenseman.
The Leafs have scored just once in their last 24 opportunities with the man advantage.
"It's just a little more presence of those two guys that are hungry and are going to be consistent on the inside around the net," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe explained.
With right-handed shots Mitch Marner (ankle) and Calle Jarnkrok (hand) unavailable to the club, the Leafs are wanting another right-handed shot and Liljegren will add that from the point with William Nylander being the other player in the group.
"With some of our movement and such, especially losing the righty of Mitch, we think it's important with Auston (Matthews and Willy's (William Nylander) ability to shoot and finish. So having another right shot is helpful to that.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0tWOVfKiLM[/embed]
Keefe also added that the way the Flyers kill penalties is different than the way the Hurricanes kill them. The Hurricanes have the second-best penalty kill going into games on Tuesday at 85.8 percent. The Flyers are right behind them for third in the NHL at 84.7 percent.
Rielly is no stranger to being bumped off the team's top power play. He started the year on the second unit when the Leafs gave John Klingberg the first chance to play in the spot.
In previous years, he volunteered himself to move off the top unit to help former teammate Tyson Barrie get going offensively during the 2019-20 season.
The second unit doesn't get a lot of ice time compared to the first one, which will also consist of forwards Max Domi, Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann.
Liljegren has seen his play improve over the last few games with the arrival of Joel Edmundson from the Washington Capitals. In the three games they have played together, Liljegren has three points.
Related
News from THN.com
McDavid to Reaves: 11 NHL Players Who Should Star in a Behind-the-Scenes Series
Hockey's Newest Dynasty Is One of the Most Dominant Canadian University Teams Ever