The Maple Leafs have called up some extra bodies ahead of their game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The Maple Leafs have called up some extra bodies ahead of their game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have called up forward Bobby McMann and goaltender Joseph Woll ahead of their game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The call-up of McMann is no surprise given Friday night's news that forward Noel Acciari would not join the Leafs after suffering an injury against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. The choice of calling up McMann is also a no-brainer, as the 26-year-old has been on a tear with the Marlies as of late, scoring a hat trick in his return from an injury last week.
It's the call-up of Woll that comes as a surprise. Matt Murray will still get the start in goal against the Ottawa Senators as Ilya Samsonov did not make the trip.
"He's got a couple of minor things he has been dealing with, which allows him to stay back and take care of that," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Saturday morning. "Also he and his wife are expecting a baby any day now."
Keefe had mentioned that Samsonov hasn't been quite 100 percent, but the Russian goaltender continues to help his team pick up victories during his starts, most recently a 5-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
Murray has twice been scheduled to take on his former team this season, only to have those plans called off due to injury. But everything appears to be all systems go for Murray to finally take on the Sens.
"You do your best to treat it like any other game," Murray said. "My focus is on that. They're a dangerous team, defensively. I think it's going to be a playoff-type atmosphere out there.
On Oct. 15, Murray suffered an adductor injury during the morning skate. Before his scheduled game against the Sens on Jan. 27, Murray had an ankle injury flare up on him during the warmup.
Mark Giordano sits
With McMann called up, the Maple Leafs will continue on their original plan of deploying 12 forwards and six defensemen against the Senators tonight. Both McMann and Wayne Simmonds will draw in.
On defense, Justin Holl will come into the lineup while Mark Giordano and Erik Gustafsson will be scratched.
The 39-year-old Giordano will be a scratch for the first time this season as the Leafs look to give their veteran a rest.
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