Ryan Reaves is coming off the bench.
After sitting out the past two games as a healthy scratch, the Maple Leafs winger will be back at his fourth-line spot on Tuesday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
“I just wanted a bigger, more physical lineup tonight,” Leafs coach Craig Berube told media in Philadelphia after Toronto’s morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center.
“I just think going off last game too, Reavo has been out the last few games, so I wanted to get him back in. There were some pretty big hits last game and have to be prepared.”
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The Leafs beat the Flyers in overtime on Sunday in Toronto and, during the game, defenceman Jake McCabe suffered an upper-body injury in a fight with Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway.
Berube was asked whether there is an approximate timeline for McCabe, who was played on injured reserve on Monday.
“Not really,” Berube said. “I think you just have to go day to day here. He needs to get back on the ice and we will go from there. I think that’s probably the best way I can put it. I’m not sure when that is.”
There were 76 hits in the game on Sunday, with the Leafs throwing 43 of them. Reaves is fourth among Leafs with 82 hits.
Conor Timmins will draw into the lineup on the blue line as the Leafs kick off the second half of the 2024-25 regular season in first place in the Atlantic Division, four points ahead of the Florida Panthers and nine up on the Boston Bruins.
With the insertion of Reaves, who has been scratched in five of the past seven games, Nick Robertson will sit out.
Berube is moving Steven Lorentz to the third line to play with centre Max Domi and Max Pacioretty, while Bobby McMann will see second-line duty with John Tavares and William Nylander.
“I wanted to add a little more speed to the Tavares line and Bobby has been playing really well,” Berube said. “I know that line of Domi, Bobby and Robbie has been very good for us, but Robbie is not in tonight and we’re just moving guys around a little bit.”
Defenceman Morgan Rielly scored the winner in overtime on Sunday after he went two months without scoring.
“I think Mo has been playing a hard game,” Berube said. “Physical, checking, doing a good job and a big goal for us last game.
“I think he is doing what we’re asking him to do. I’m sure maybe he looks at it like he wants more offence. He is getting his looks.
“For me, it’s about playing 200 feet with Mo, and we want him to be offensive and jump up in the play at the right times and do the right things, but we want him to do the right things defensively and I feel like he has been.”
X: @koshtorontosun