Injured Leafs return, coach rewards strong push in setting lineup for Senators

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The band is back together for what they hope will be a long spring tour.

Having survived the past couple of weeks with two injured defencemen, both the blueline and four forward lines were optimally set during the Maple Leafs’ final practice before the Battle of Ontario commences Sunday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson were back in place Saturday at the Ford Centre and just as significantly, Nick Robertson remained on the right side of the third unit with centre Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann, as well as on the second power-play unit.

Until the blue and white forwards’ sweaters were sorted and the starting whistle sounded, there was speculation Max Pacioretty and David Kampf might go from weeks of enforced salary cap/injury limbo right into the lineup to provide playoff experience and size.

But head coach Craig Berube will leave a few big boys in the press box for now; Pacioretty, Kampf, the recently called up Ryan Reaves and defenceman Philippe Myers. The return of McCabe to join shutdown partner Chris Tanev and OEL with Simon Benoit sidelined Myers and Dakota Mermis.

“Pumped, ready to rock,” declared McCabe who’ll jump right into the fire against Brady Tkachuk and an aggressive group of Ottawa forwards. McCabe noted the silver lining of the time away with his undisclosed injury is that he’ll bring “fresher legs” to the lineup.

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Without McCabe in particular, the Leafs finished the regular season with a record of 6-1, locking up the Atlantic Division and home ice, among the reasons the Leafs are favoured in the best-of-seven series with the Senators.

While they enter these playoffs healthy, the Leafs had to get through big chunks of the regular schedule without key personnel. Both goalies, Game 1 starter Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, missed time. McCabe was hurt for three multiple-game stints, OEL skipped the last four.

The most significant absence at forward was captain Auston Matthews for almost all of November with suspected back issues lingering before and a bit after his time on injured reserve.

“Management has done a good job of providing us great depth through our organization,” McCabe said. “Coming into this year, we knew we were going to be a deep team. Top six forwards, bottom six, all three defensive pairs, we mixed and matched. Myers and Dakota stepped in seamlessly, too.

“That’s important. Injuries in the playoffs will pop up, too, though hopefully not.”

Berube didn’t resort to his usual subterfuge about who’ll start Sunday, full of praise for how Robertson protected his spot, three goals in the seven games after his latest elongated scratch.

“He scored some, but it was his work ethic and competitiveness (including hitting bigger players) that really stuck out to me,” Berube said. “He’s got great speed.

“All lines have earned that (Game 1 reward). They played extremely well down the stretch.”