Leafs appear prepped to be without Auston Matthews for Game 5

In the wake of this uncertainty, Coach Sheldon Keefe shook up the practice lines on Monday in preparation for the critical upcoming game. The forward lines were reshuffled as follows:

Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Mitch Marner on the first line,
Matthew Knies, John Tavares, and William Nylander forming the second trio,
Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and Calle Jarnkrok on the third,
and a fourth line comprised of Connor Dewar, David Kampf, and Ryan Reaves.

Defensively, the Leafs made minimal adjustments, starting with T.J. Brodie being partnered with Mark Giordano as the "fourth pair," a move signaling the return of Timothy Liljegren, who joined Joel Edmundson on the third pair. The top defensive duo remained Morgan Rielly and Ilya Lyubushkin, with Simon Benoit and Jake McCabe securing the second pairing.

Intriguingly, despite his ailment, Matthews is set to travel with the team, instilling a glimmer of hope for his participation. Coach Keefe expressed cautious optimism about Matthews' recovery, fueled by the extra day off between games which could be crucial for his health. "We are hopeful he feels better," Keefe noted, adding, "we'll see what tomorrow brings."

Amid these lineup changes, Mark Masters highlighted that while Connor Dewar initially stepped up to the top line in Friday's practice in Matthews' absence, his placement on the fourth line today suggests an increasing likelihood that Matthews will miss Game 5.

The potential absence of Matthews thrusts additional pressure onto other key players. Max Domi is now pivotal at centering the first line, and Mitch Marner faces a crucial game to redeem himself after a subpar performance. Similarly, veterans John Tavares and William Nylander are under the spotlight, tasked with breaching Jeremy Swayman's defenses to keep their playoff hopes alive and push for a Game 6 back at Scotiabank Arena.

As the Maple Leafs gear up for a decisive battle in Game 5, the team's resilience and depth are put to the test, underscoring the essential role of adaptability and collective effort in the face of adversity.