3 significant absentees at Leafs’ practice cause peculiar lineup changes

Toronto Maple Leafs star forwards John Tavares and Mitch Marner did not play on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues due to illness. The Maple Leafs still got a 4-1 win against the Blues, but news weren’t as good on Wednesday morning at practice.

Not only were Tavares and Marner still absent on the ice, but teammate William Nylander was also missing from the skate. This cause some unusual changes to the lineup as defenseman Morgan Rielly, who has been suspended five games for cross-checking Ottawa Senators’ Ridly Greig in the head on Saturday, took Nylander’s spot on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.

Hold up - I am not saying that the Maple Leafs will use a defenseman to fill the voids up front, but the team needs to make the appropriate calls up and lineup changes if ever the three forwards are expected to miss Toronto’ next game. The Maple Leafs are back in action on Thursday at home against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Leafs are also without Trevor Timmins, who was diagnosed with mono and is out indefinitely.

Despite Marner and Tavares missing last night’s contest, offense came from the bottom-six with Bobby McMann recorded his first career hat trick. He was not even supposed to be dressed for the game, but stepped in and was the real hero of the night.

After the game, it had been said that some players were under the weather, but pushed through to take part in the contest. It could have included Nylander, who skated 19:38 last night and recorded a goal. He has 26 goals and 66 points in 51 games this season.

Tavares has put up 15 goals and 40 points in 50 games, while Marner has recorded 22 goals and 57 points in just as many contests.

As for Rielly, he will be out until Feb.22.

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