Ekman-Larsson and McCabe are both dealing with upper-body injuries, says Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube.
With the playoffs less than a week away, the Toronto Maple Leafs are beginning to get a bit of clarity on some of their injured players.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday morning in Buffalo that Jake McCabe, who's missed the last five games, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who's missed the past two games, are dealing with upper-body injuries.
McCabe has skated several times with the team, most recently at Toronto's optional morning skate before their 1-0 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens. We have yet to see Ekman-Larsson step out onto the ice, but according to Berube, he has skated.
Toronto recalled Dakota Mermis before facing the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, and he played 15:11 in their 4-1 win. With a chance to clinch the Atlantic division against the Buffalo Sabres, Mermis will be back in the lineup.
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McCabe and Ekman-Larsson will miss another game as their status for Game 1 of the playoffs remains uncertain. Although McCabe has been out longer, there appears to be at least a chance he plays in Toronto's final game of the regular season.
"Yeah, I don't know. That's going to have to be a question and conversation," Berube said on Tuesday morning. "I'm going to have to have it with him individually about where he's at and what I think is best for the team and him."
McCabe has played in 66 of the Maple Leafs' 80 games this season, scoring two goals and 21 assists while averging the most ice time (21:31) among the team's skaters. If he doesn't get into Thursday's game against Detroit, is there concern for his Game 1 availability?
"Well, there's always a concern, right? I mean, like I said, it's a little ways away yet for me to make those kinds of decisions and things like that. I've got to see them up close a little bit more here and talk to these guys and see where they're at."
Ekman-Larsson has only missed three games this year and has four goals and 25 assists. Before going down with an injury, the 33-year-old played a team-high 25:14 in Toronto's 4-3 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning last Wednesday.
Berube said he expects Ekman-Larsson to be in the Game 1 lineup, "but you never know," he added.
"He's tough, so he'll play through things. If he's not in the lineup, somebody else is going to have to step up. That's just the bottom line. That's part of playoffs."
David Kampf has also missed five games — the same as McCabe — with an injury. He, like McCabe, is a "possibility" for Game 1, Berube said. But right now, the Maple Leafs are in no rush to make any designations before the playoffs begin.
"Today they're going to skate, see how they're at, see how he (Kampf) feels. Is it worth them getting in that game? I don't know. To risk getting hurt again. Just got to play it by ear."
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