Maple Leafs' Max Domi 'Has An Injury' and is Day-to-Day While Timothy Liljegren Eyes Possible Return to Lineup Against Red Wings
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe didn't rule out the possibility that Domi plays on Saturday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs may be without Max Domi when the club hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
The player did not take part in the team's practice at Ford Performance Centre on Friday and Noah Gregor skated in his place on a line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Auston Matthews.
"He has an injury," Maple Leafs head coach said. "That's a day-to-day situation. So just kept him off the ice today and see how he does tomorrow."
Keefe also said "there is a chance" that Domi could be in the lineup and based on the club's formation at practice it doesn't sound like anything they are too concerned about.
A longer-term injury to Domi would have likely seen more of a shakeup to the top line including the possible reuniting of Mitch Marner.
Domi and William Nylander are the only two Maple Leafs who have played in all 79 games this season. Domi has nine goals and 38 assists. Having played in different positions in the lineup all season long, Domi has found chemistry alongside Bertuzzi and Matthews which began when Marner was sidelined with an ankle injury last month.
With three games remaining in the season and not a lot of playoff positioning left to play for, load management certainly could come into play.
While Domi's status for Saturday is not clear, Timothy Liljegren's status has more of a focus.
The defenseman took part in his first full practice since sustaining an upper-body injury. He skated alongside Morgan Rielly for the duration of Friday's practice. Barring anything unforeseen, it's expected he will play in his first game since Mar. 26.
"He went into the practice with the intention of pushing himself with an eye towards tomorrow," Keefe said of Liljegren. "So that's the goal."
Liljegren has three goals and 20 assists in 52 games this season.
Related
News from THN.com