The Maple Leafs have faced numerous injuries and illnesses during the 2023-24 season, with only Nylander and Max Domi managing to appear in every game thus far. However, Domi’s streak of uninterrupted games might be at risk when the Detroit Red Wings come to Scotiabank Arena for Toronto’s last regular season home game.
Domi was absent from practice on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre, and his absence was not due to routine maintenance.
“He’s dealing with an injury,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, in a rather subdued tone. “It’s a day-to-day thing, so we decided to keep him off the ice today and check on him tomorrow.”
When asked if Domi might play on Saturday, Keefe responded, “Yes, there’s a possibility.”
Details about the specific nature of Domi’s injury remain unclear. He was back in action against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night after a second-period altercation with Simon Nemec and spoke with the media post-game.
With Domi out, Keefe has positioned Noah Gregor on the right wing alongside Auston Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi on the top line, suggesting Gregor is filling in temporarily for Domi. Clarity on this lineup change should emerge as Saturday approaches.
Should Domi be unavailable, there’s a possibility that Keefe could shift Mitch Marner to the right side of Matthews.
Regardless, Matthews, who has netted 68 goals so far, stands a strong chance of reaching the 70-goal mark against the Wings. He’s scored 16 goals in 23 career matchups against Detroit, although he hasn’t found the back of the net in their two encounters this season.
On the defensive end, Timothy Liljegren, who has missed the last eight games due to an upper-body injury, was seen practicing in a pair with Morgan Rielly, indicating he might be close to a comeback.
“I haven’t received the report yet, but he looked good,” Keefe commented. “He entered practice intending to really push himself, with the aim of playing tomorrow. That’s the plan, and we’ll assess his condition tomorrow.”
