Marner not in Maple Leafs lineup, day to day with lower-body injury
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The Maple Leafs had a rather large hole to fill in Calgary on Tuesday night.
Winger Mitch Marner was not in the lineup against the Flames, as the Leafs announced on social media that Marner is day to day with a lower-body injury.
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Defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who departed the Leafs win on Saturday in Edmonton against the Oilers with a lower-body injury, was in the Toronto lineup.
“Something happened in the game, I guess,” Leafs coach Craig Berube told media in Calgary on Tuesday, referring to Marner and the match in Edmonton. “Just not feeling right in certain areas, so we’re trying to work on it, trying to get him ready.
“It’s like anybody who goes out. It’s hard to fill the voids. Different opportunity for some guys, people stepping up and doing the job. We’ve done it all year and if he can’t go, we have to continue to do it.”
Marner is on a different level, though. One of four Leafs to play in all 52 games to date, he was fourth in NHL scoring with 70 points.
Heading into the game, Marner was one of two forwards to lead his team in ice time — Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils was the other — and he is the Leafs’ top penalty-killing forward.
There has been no indication as to how the injury could impact Marner’s status with Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, which gets underway on Feb. 12 when Canada plays Sweden.
With Marner out, Max Domi got the assignment on the right side on the Leafs’ top line with captain Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
“Max, going back to last year, played a handful of games or more with Auston and they had some pretty good chemistry going,” Berube said. “He’s a passer. We need a passer on that line with Matthews and Knies. He is a guy who can make plays. It’s all about Max, it’s all about his skating. He needs to move, he needs to attack and have that mindset.”
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Domi has 19 points in 44 games.
“We’re pretty familiar with each other,” Domi said of his past work with Matthews. “Haven’t played with each other this year, but it’s a great opportunity and (I’ll) be ready to go.”
Joseph Woll started in goal for the Leafs, although there was some thought that Anthony Stolarz might play for the first time since Dec. 12. Stolarz needs a bit more seasoning before returning from a knee procedure, Berube said.
As of Tuesday, the Leafs are scheduled to practise in Seattle on Wednesday afternoon.
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