"Just Go Out And Play': TJ Brodie Returns to Maple Leafs Lineup After Two-Game Reset, Ilya Lyubushkin and Tyler Bertuzzi Return From Illness Against Hurricanes
Brodie was a healthy scratch for the last two games as the Maple Leafs, giving him time to reflect on his struggles on the ice this season.
RALEIGH — TJ Brodie will be back in the lineup when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on Sunday.
The veteran defenseman was made a healthy scratch for the first inn over a decade on Mar. 20 against the Washington Capitals and he sat out of Toronto's 6-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers.
Keefe cited now as a good time to get Brodie back in, but also stressed the importance of using all of the defensemen on their roster.
So what are the Leafs expecting from the 34-year-old Brodie?
"Just go out and play," Keefe said during his pre-game media availability on Sunday.. "But he knows how to play the game, so we're just hopeful that's a little bit of time away gives him a chance to kind of reboot and get back out and compete against a tough team here today.
"But as I say, it's a chance for us to continue to utilize our depth, which I think is extremely important. The more injuries and illnesses and things that we face, the more we've learned about the value of our depth and a chance for us to utilize that again tonight."
Ilya Lyubushkin will also return on defense after missing the last three games due to illness. With less than a month to go, Keefe intends to rotate defensemen in and out to find the optimal look before the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Brodie has 18 assists in 66 games this season while averaging 21:51 of ice time.
Tyler Bertuzzi will also return to the lineup after missing Saturday's game with an illness. Bertuzzi began to feel off before the team's 7-3 win against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. It's expected he'll find his spot back on the first line alongside Auston Matthews and Max Domi.
The 29-year-old has been on fire as of late. He has three goals in his last four games and has 15 goals and 19 assists in 67 games this season.
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