As the Toronto Maple Leafs gear up for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Boston Bruins, the lineup ready for the game seems still up in the air. In fact, and this is a bit unusual, David Alter is using the Game 1 lineup to project tonight’s lineup.
That means that the lineup for tonight’s game could change based on player availability and injuries.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Struggle in 5-1 Game 1 Loss to Bruins
Two Things We Know About Game 2
First, the report is that Ilya Samsonov is set to start in goal for the Maple Leafs in Game 2 tonight. Samsonov faced a challenging Game 1, allowing four goals on 23 shots as the Maple Leafs fell to a 5-1 loss. Despite this disappointing performance, the coaching staff has given Samsonov a chance to redeem himself and help the team bounce back to even the series at one game apiece.
This decision underscores the team’s confidence in Samsonov’s abilities. This was the same scenario as last season’s playoffs, where the Tampa Bay Lightning beat him in Game 1, but the team won Game 2 and carried the series. Maple Leafs fans can hope for the same results. As the team seeks to take home a split of their first two games in Boston, Samsonov will be a critical factor in their quest to turn the series around.
Second, we know William Nylander‘s status is uncertain for Game 2. The report is that he will be a game-time decision. Nylander is dealing with an undisclosed injury. He did not participate in line rushes during the game-day skate and stayed out on the ice with other scratches, indicating that his return to action is unlikely.
That said, the team will evaluate Nylander’s condition throughout the day before deciding on his availability. If Nylander does return to the lineup, he will seek to break out of an 11-game goal drought, during which he had 34 shots on goal. His offensive contributions could be crucial for the Maple Leafs as they look to even the series against the Bruins.
Maple Leafs fans will have to wait for further updates leading up to the game to learn about Nylander’s status and potential return to action in Game 2.
Maple Leafs Line Combinations
| Line Number | Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| First Line | Tyler Bertuzzi | Auston Matthews | Max Domi |
| Second Line | Matthew Knies | John Tavares | Mitch Marner |
| Third Line | Nick Robertson | Pontus Holmberg | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Fourth Line | Connor Dewar | David Kampf | Ryan Reaves |
Extra: Noah Gregor
Maple Leafs Defensive Pairings
| Pairing | Left Side | Right Side |
| First Pairing | Morgan Rielly | Ilya Lyubushkin |
| Second Pairing | Simon Benoit | Jake McCabe |
| Third Pairing | Joe Edmundson | Timothy Liljegren |
Extras: Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, Cade Webber, and Conor Timmins
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