Maple Leafs Face Sharks with Key Injuries on March 3

TORONTO, Ontario — The Toronto Maple Leafs host the San Jose Sharks tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena. The Maple Leafs enter the matchup with a 38-20-2 record, currently leading the Atlantic Division, while the Sharks sit at the bottom of the league with fewer than 40 points on the season.

Injuries are looming large for the Leafs as they prepare for this evening’s game. Key players out include left wing Max Pacioretty, center Calle Jarnkrok, defenseman Jani Hakanpaa, and center Steven Lorentz, all of whom are on injured reserve. The absence of these players has forced the Leafs to adjust their lineup and strategize effectively to maintain their top spot.

Despite the injuries, Toronto’s lineup is expected to feature star players such as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The projected lineup according to NHL.com is as follows:

Matthew Knies — Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner
Pontus Holmberg — John Tavares — William Nylander
Bobby McMann — Max Domi — Nicholas Robertson
Connor Dewar — David Kampf — Ryan Reaves
Morgan Rielly — Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe — Philippe Myers
Simon Benoit — Conor Timmins
Anthony Stolarz — Joseph Woll

Meanwhile, the Sharks also face significant challenges as they come to town. They will be without Logan Couture and Jan Rutta due to lower-body injuries, along with Nikolai Kovalenko and Henry Thrun, who are sidelined with upper-body injuries. Rookie Macklin Celebrini is a game-time decision due to a lower-body injury he sustained during a loss against the Ottawa Senators.

The Sharks’ projected lineup includes:

William Eklund — Macklin Celebrini — Tyler Toffoli
Fabian Zetterlund — Alexander Wennberg — Will Smith
Collin Graf — Nico Sturm — Luke Kunin
Klim Kostin — Ty Dellandrea — Barclay Goodrow
Jake Walman — Timothy Liljegren
Mario Ferraro — Shakir Mukhamadullin
Marc-Edouard Vlasic — Jack Thompson
Alexander Georgiev — Vitek Vanecek

In pre-game analysis, the Maple Leafs are heavily favored, with odds indicating a -355 moneyline against the Sharks’ +280. This game is pivotal for both teams, as the Leafs look to solidify their playoff position while the Sharks strive to improve their standings after a tumultuous season.

As the puck drops this evening, Toronto will look to leverage their home-ice advantage against a depleted Sharks squad. The upcoming three-game road trip awaits the Leafs, starting with a confrontation against the Vegas Golden Knights on March 5, so they are motivated to secure a win tonight.