The Toronto Maple Leafs will be making some changes to their blue line for the second game of their back-to-back against the Washington Capitals.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that veteran defenceman TJ Brodie will be a healthy scratch with Conor Timmins getting into the lineup.
Brodie was on the ice for two goals against in the Leafs 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers and logged 21:28 of ice time. In 66 games this season, the 33-year-old has registered 18 assists.
“We think it’s an opportunity for us to give some time off, lighten the workload a bit here because he’s taken on a lot for us,” Keefe told reporters. “Brodie knows he hasn’t been at his best this season here for most of the season yet he’s taken on a lot for us. We’ve been through a lot this year with our defence in particular throughout the season and he’s consistently been there taking on most of the hardest matchups every single night.
“This gives us a chance to give a night off and also get Timmins back involved with Lyubushkin not available.”
Keefe also announced that Ryan Reaves will not play after suffering an eye injury following a fight with Flyers forward Nicolas Deslauriers which forced him to leave the game in the first period. Noah Gregor will draw back into Reaves’ spot on the fourth line.
