The Maple Leafs will start their game with the same lines and defense pairs they used in their 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

CALGARY — Following a team meeting on Wednesday where Toronto Maple Leafs head coach bluntly communicated with his players about the state of his team, head coach Sheldon Keefe has elected to start Thursday's game against the Calgary Flames with the same lines and defense pairs that started in Toronto's 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

"You’re seeking some consistency. We’ve moved the group around, but for the most part, we’ve stayed with this group of 18 skaters for a good chunk of time here now," Keefe explained on Thursday morning following the team's morning skate at Scotiabank Saddledome. "You want to give it some time."

The Maple Leafs are mired in a four-game losing streak and have given up the go-ahead goal late in regulation time in their last three consecutive contests. Amid the losing streak, Keefe put his lines in a blender ahead of their 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday before going with the current formation against the Oilers on Tuesday.

Following a skating session with players who did not play on Tuesday (and Simon Benoit), Keefe revealed that through 42 games of the regular season, he was still having issues with whom he could trust on the ice for critical moments in the game.

Despite that, it looks like the lines will be the same. At least to start. But Keefe does have that regular habit of making many situation adjustments during the game.

"We want to be able to put ourselves in a position to win a game here again and this group has done it for us. So we’ll stay with it and get at it here tonight.

The deployment will also remain the same in goal as Martin Jones will star for Toronto. He has an 8-5-1 with a .922 save percentage.

Related

'It's An Exciting Time': Maple Leafs Prospect Roni Hirvonen Skates in First Non-Contact Practice with Marlies Following Eye Injury

Maple Leafs Enter Game Against Flames in Fourth Place in the Atlantic Division as Red Wings Move Ahead, Lineups and Where to Watch

'Halfway Through The Season, I Still Have A Lot Of Questions About Who Is Going To Get The Job Done For Us': Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe Still Searching for Right Players to Trust in Key Moments

News from THN.com

Five NHL Skaters Upping Their Scoring Against Division Rivals in 2023-24

Notable Forwards Potentially Available At the NHL Trade Deadline

NHL Playoff Race Check-In: Battle Intensifies for Six Teams Vying for East Wild Cards