Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is contemplating various changes to the lineup and cited some undisclosed injuries as part of a possible new deployment against the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 6.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe is contemplating various changes to the lineup and cited some undisclosed injuries as part of a possible new deployment against the Tampa Bay Lightning for Game 6.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe says he'll take the day to figure out any lineup changes following his team's missed opportunity to close things out in Game 5 on Thursday.
"We've got a couple of things happening with some of our players in terms of injuries that will play itself throughout the day and probably parts of tomorrow," Keefe said on Friday. "We're looking at all of our options that give us the best opportunity to get going."
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The Maple Leafs had a pair of players get hurt during the second period of their 4-2 loss to the Lightning in Game 5. Matthew Knies blocked a shot from Tampa forward Steven Stamkos and temporarily left the game before returning for the third period.
Mark Giordano was the recipient of a questionable hit along the boards from Tampa's Pat Maroon at the end of the second period.
Both players finished Thursday's game as the Maple Leafs lost their 11th straight playoff game in which they had a chance to close out a series.
"I think he's doing ok today," Keefe said of Giordano.
Maroon was assessed a roughing penalty shortly after the play, although it wasn't clear if it was for the hit or the scrum that ensured afterward.
Michael Bunting effect
Although Keefe didn't confirm it, Michael Bunting, who served as a healthy scratch in that game following a three-game suspension for his illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, is probably going to return to the lineup for Game 6.
"The series as it goes on wears on everybody," Keefe said. "Having a guy who comes in who hasn't played can give us a boost that way."
Keefe elected to rest Bunting as his team went 3-0 in the series without the 23-goal scorer. His message to the player was that he would get back into the lineup, just not Game 5.
Justin Holl/Timothy Liljegren
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl has been on the ice 14 goals during the series, which according to Sportsnet Stats is the most by any Leafs player in over a decade.
Keefe, when pressed about the option to go with Holl over another defenseman available like Timothy Liljegren, defended the move saying Holl isn't the only player on the ice when the goals are going in, but acknowledged that he needs to be better.
Liljegren hasn't played in a playoff game since Game 2 of Toronto's playoff series with Tampa in 2022. Given some of the issues Toronto had with breaking out the puck, a fresh Liljegren could change the dynamic.
There is the possibility the Leafs could go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen tomorrow. Toronto deployed 11 and seven for 11 games during the regular season.
Keeping a positive disposition following loss
The Maple Leafs didn't take the ice and used the day to recover before travelling to Tampa for Game 6. Despite what felt like a tense post-game vibe following the Game 5 loss, the coach said he got a different pulse of the group on Friday.
“As a coach, before you walk into a meeting, you're always getting a pretty good sense of where the group is at based on the volume of chatter or the energy of the room. And today it was vibrant. So that's a really good sign," Keefe said.
Maple Leafs captain John Tavares echoed those sentiments.
"Just a short memory, turn the page," he said.
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Why Michael Bunting Will Not Get Into Maple Leafs Lineup for Game 5 Against Lightning