Early updates on Nylander and Samsonov ahead of Game 2.
Early updates from the Toronto Maple Leafs morning skate on Monday ahead of Game 2 in Boston.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into Game 2 of their opening round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins with several question marks about their lineup, but on Monday morning we got a bit of a hint as to which way the wind may be blowing.
The biggest concern is of course around the health and status of star forward William Nylander and unfortunately there were two signs from practice today that suggest Nylander will not be playing in Game 2. The first was the fact that, in spite of being on the ice, Nylander was not participating in the typical practice drills.
That in and of itself would be a big reason for concern, but additionally Nylander also stayed on the ice after the regulars had cleared out, yet another sign that he is unlikely to be ready for Game 2.
Of course given the fact that this is the Stanley Cup playoffs, things could change drastically over the course of the next several hours.
The second question mark comes in regards to the Maple Leafs goaltending situation. Many have wondered how short of a leash Ilya Samsonov will get in these Stanley Cup playoffs but it looks like, at least for now, Samsonov still does have some leash left.
Samsonov was seen going through the typical paces he goes through when he is set to start the next game, which appears to indicate he will be your starter for Game 2 in Boston.
Stay tuned for more details.