![]() ![]() However, in real life, he’s still kind of young at 33 years old. We think of Luke Schenn as an old guy, at least in terms of hockey. Sam Lafferty will take Tavares’ place as the second-line center with Calle Jarnkrok and William Nylander on the wings in Tuesday’s game. He’s expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers. That would be my guess as to why the team is resting Tavares. Related: Maple Leafs Hope Ho-Sang Can Overcome His HistoryĪlthough Tavares did take some hard hits in Saturday’s game, coach Keefe did mentioned that a flu bug was going around the team. The report is that it was an “undisclosed injury,” but from the description and context, I’m guessing Tavares has the flu. Maple Leafs captain John Tavares will miss Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Item Three: John Tavares to Miss New Jersey Game However, against the Canucks it was a different story. Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged Rielly’s initiative in joining the rush and praised that part of his game against the Calgary Flames. Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) Sometimes, and twice on the power play in that game, he was caught trying to contribute offensively while also fulfilling his defensive responsibilities. During the Canucks game, he was caught in odd-man rushes. He’s shown flashes of offensive ability however, defensively, he’s struggled at times. Rielly is a key reason for his team’s success. With all the angst surrounding the team, they do currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division. There’s no doubt that Rielly’s offensive contributions have been important to the team’s success. Related: Maple Leafs’ Forgotten Ones: Travis Green ![]() On the season, he’s scored two goals and added 30 assists (for 32 points) in 48 games. That assist put Rielly on a three-game point streak. However, he contributed a power-play assist in that loss. In the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 loss Saturday to the Canucks, Morgan Rielly had a tough night defensively. Item Two: Morgan Rielly Has Struggled Recently Fans will see what this team is made of over the next month. O’Reilly just represents the toughest test so far, especially with the timing of his injury. When the defense was a group of walking wounded, the team showed its resilience by overcoming adversity. However, this isn’t the first time this season that the Maple Leafs have suffered and have had to respond to injuries. Without O’Reilly, the team must rely on its depth and adapt its game plan to compensate for his absence. He has exactly the kind of resume this team needs to carry with it into the playoffs. O’Reilly also brings leadership and experience to the team. Perhaps even as important were his intangibles. He has the ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. As a Selke and Conn Smythe winner, O’Reilly was going to be an important player during the team’s regular-season stretch. With O’Reilly injured and out of the lineup, the Maple Leafs will need to make adjustments to fill his role. To fill his spot on the roster, the Leafs have recalled Pontus Holmberg and Alex Steeves from the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. O’Reilly won’t be eligible to return to the team until at least March 29 when the Maple Leafs face the Florida Panthers. Related: The State of College Hockey in Florida Before that injury, O’Reilly had played eight games with his new team, and he’d scored three goals and added two assists (for five points) in those games. O’Reilly was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) because of a broken finger he suffered during Saturday’s game (March 4) against the Vancouver Canucks. In this edition of Maple Leafs News & Rumors, I’ll share that news, some of the concomitant player moves that have been made because of it, and other news surrounding the team. Ryan O’Reilly, Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) ![]()
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