Simon Benoit And Philippe Myers To Get More Opportunity As Maple Leafs Play With 5 Defensemen Against Canadiens

Benoit moves up to Toronto's second pairing with Tanev as Ekman-Larsson deals with an undisclosed injury.

Mar 3, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit (2) skates against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be one defenseman short on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens, meaning there'll be more opportunity for players who haven't been as heavily relied upon.

With Oliver Ekman-Larsson missing practice on Friday due to an undisclosed injury, Simon Benoit moved up to his spot on Toronto's second pairing alongside Chris Tanev. Philippe Myers has also been in the lineup the past three games as Jake McCabe deals with an undisclosed injury.

Both could likely play more minutes on Saturday than their averages of around 16 minutes per game this season. Myers only played 7:19 in Toronto's overtime win on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Due to salary cap constraints, the Maple Leafs will play only five defensemen on Saturday against Montreal.

"The 5D is going to play more and be in more situations that he's probably not used to," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Saturday morning.

"But when you've got a 5D like that, our forwards are going to have to work tonight. They've got to do a good job of helping out, get hold-ups and killing plays in the neutral zone and killing plays out of the offensive zone, and not allowing Montreal to gain our zones much and helping out in the D zone. They gotta help out tonight."

The Toronto Maple Leafs will likely dress one player short when they host the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

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Myers has appeared in 32 games with the Maple Leafs this season, filling in primarily on their bottom pairing when there's been an injury. Benoit, however, has appeared in all but four games with Toronto this season, registering a goal and eight assists in 74 games.

He, too, has mostly played on the bottom pair but will have more responsibility against a Canadiens team who's all but cashed in their ticket for the playoffs.

"I think he's playing aggressive, physical, he's getting in there and killing plays. He's hard to play against and making the simple plays of the puck. But I see him getting up in the play more and skating," Berube said of Benoit.

"He's a strong skater, and he's done some good things transporting the puck up the ice by himself and gaining the offensive blue and doing some things in the offensive zone a little bit with the puck.

"But overall, he's been a real good penalty killer for us, and his physicality really comes into play. He's been a physical guy back there for us, strong in front of our net, boxing people out, doing those types of things."

As the Toronto Maple Leafs inch closer to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s cautious optimism surrounding the status of the return of defenseman Jani Hakanpaa — but no guarantees.

thehockeynews.com‘Hopefully, We’ll Get There; We’ll See’: Maple Leafs’ Jani Hakanpaa Making Progress, But Return For Playoffs Still UncertainAs the Toronto Maple Leafs inch closer to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s cautious optimism surrounding the status of the return of defenseman Jani Hakanpaa — but no guarantees.

Berube said on Friday that McCabe is expected back before the regular season ends. That alone will give Toronto a boost as they enter the postseason. He skated Friday and was on the ice for the team's optional morning skate Saturday.

Getting someone like McCabe back will be huge, but Toronto is focused on a Canadiens team that, even though they played on Friday, will be a tough opponent to defeat.

"I know they played last night, but throw that out the window. That's not going to matter tonight because they're going to come," Berube said. "They're going to be excited to play us here. They always are. They give us a tough game every time we play them. So I expect the same."

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