Toronto Maple Leafs appear to confirm defensive healthy scratch against the Dallas Stars
The Toronto Maple Leafs defense has had some struggles at times this season, and ahead of their game against the Dallas Stars, Craig Berube has made a big change.
Toronto Maple Leafs make key healthy scratch on defense
Maple Leafs star Morgan Rielly has been especially struggling so far this season and his pairing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson was not yielding any solid results.
In the end, the new pairings worked out for the Maple Leafs and they defeated the Sabres in the end.
Today at practice, head coach Craig Berube continued to experiment with his defensive pairings while also appearing to confirm a scratch for next game.
Firstly, Rielly was playing with Philippe Myers while Jake McCabe played with Chris Tanev.
Lastly, OEL was sharing the ice with Connor Timmins who came in to replace Simon Benoit.
Benoit is the odd man out heading into Wednesday night's game against the Dallas Stars as he was practicing on a fourth pairing with Connor Dewar.
Knies-Tavares-Pacioretty
McMann-Domi-Robertson
Lorentz-Kampf-Reaves
Extra: Holmberg
Rielly-Myers
McCabe-Tanev
OEL-Timmins
Benoit-Dewar (practicing as D)
Woll
Hildeby
Of course, drastic things can happen between now and on Wednesday, so there is no guarantee that these lines stay the same.
However, Berube would be wise to keep things like this, as the energy that was produced in the second half of Sunday's game is something the Maple Leafs should continue to strive towards.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 17 | 241 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs appear to confirm defensive healthy scratch against the Dallas Stars Do you believe Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit deserves to be scratched? | ||
| YES | 59 | 24.5 % |
| NO | 182 | 75.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
