The Toronto Maple Leafs could have their prime defenseman again Wednesday as Morgan Rielly (upper-body damage) is about to return towards the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rielly, 30, has missed the previous 4 video games however skated at observe on Monday and Tuesday. He entered Tuesday tied for tenth amongst NHL defensemen with 51 factors (seven objectives, 44 assists) and leads the Leafs in ice time at 23:48 per sport.
Leafs ahead Mitchell Marner, who has missed 11 straight video games with an ankle damage, skated once more on Tuesday however doubtless will not return till Saturday towards the Montreal Canadiens. Marner, 26, has 76 factors (25 objectives, 51 assists) in 62 video games this season.
“Morgan can be obtainable for us tomorrow,” Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe advised reporters Tuesday. “Mitch, we’ll really feel it out and speak to him … doubtless extra of a goal for the weekend.”
Over 11 seasons, Rielly has 465 factors (80 objectives, 385 assists) in 784 video games after the Leafs chosen him with the No. 5 choose within the 2012 draft.
In his eighth season with Toronto, Marner — the No. 4 choose within the 2015 draft — has 630 factors (193 objectives, 437 assists) in 569 video games.
Toronto (43-22-9, 95 factors) has gained three in a row and entered Tuesday 4 factors behind the second-place Florida Panthers (47-23-5, 99 factors) within the Atlantic Division.