Maple Leafs Face Sharks with Key Injuries Ahead of Tonight’s Match

TORONTO, Canada – The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to host the San Jose Sharks tonight at Scotiabank Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Toronto currently leads the Atlantic Division with a record of 38-20-2, while the Sharks struggle at the bottom of the league standings with fewer than 40 points this season.

Both teams enter the matchup with notable absences due to injuries. The Maple Leafs will be without left wing Max Pacioretty, center Calle Jarnkrok, and defenseman Jani Hakanpaa, all of whom are on injured reserve. Center Steven Lorentz is also sidelined with an undisclosed injury. These setbacks have forced the Leafs to adjust their lineup significantly.

Toronto’s projected lineup includes a mix of established stars and newer faces. The first line is expected to feature Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner, while John Tavares, William Nylander, and Pontus Holmberg will compose the second line. Bobby McMann, Max Domi, and Nicholas Robertson are slated for the third line, with Connor Dewar, David Kampf, and Ryan Reaves rounding out the fourth line. Defensive pairings will include Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson as well as Jake McCabe paired with Philippe Myers. Anthony Stolarz is expected to start in goal.

San Jose, meanwhile, must deal with injuries to key players as well. Center Logan Couture, defenseman Jan Rutta, and Nikolai Kovalenko are unable to play due to lower and upper body injuries, respectively. Sharks management announced that rookie Macklin Celebrini is a game-time decision after sustaining a lower-body injury last Saturday against the Ottawa Senators.

Both teams had contrasting performances in their last outings. The Maple Leafs managed an overtime victory in their previous game, scoring six goals, while the Sharks are coming off a 5-3 loss, which reflects ongoing struggles this season.

“With the players we have healthy and on our roster, we have to play hard and stick to our game plan,” said Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. The coach is optimistic the team will maintain momentum despite key injuries.

For the Sharks, the potential absence of Celebrini could be crucial. Sharks head coach David Quinn commented, “Macklin has been an essential part of our attack. His status means we’ll have to make adjustments if he can’t go.”

Tonight’s matchup is pivotal for both teams as they head toward the end of the regular season. Following this game, the Maple Leafs embark on a three-game road trip, including matchups against the Vegas Golden Knights and the Utah Hockey Club.