Maple Leafs split up the Core Four as one member could miss game 1

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Josh tupper
April 19, 2024 (4:07 PM)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to faceoff with their arch rivals the Boston Bruins but will be forced to do it without William Nylander.

For some fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, tomorrow marks the beginning of a worst case scenario situation. After it seemed for weeks that a playoff match up against the Florida Panthers was inevitable. Reality set in and the Leafs now find themselves locked in a match up against long-term rivals, the Boston Bruins.

For many Maple Leafs fans, all of their teams issues and struggles began when they blew a 4-1 lead against the Bruins in the 2013 playoffs. Now with the two teams set to meet up again, the Maple Leafs must overcome history and the big bad Bruins if they want to advance in the playoffs.

With game one set to begin Saturday night. Sheldon Keefe made the announcement that Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews will play on separate lines. Something the head coach said has been in the works for weeks.

Keefe says it's an easy call to split Matthews and Marner. Decision was made weeks ago.

The Maple Leafs will look to use their depth advantage to overcome the Bruins. However, today at practice the Maple Leafs were without both Bobby McCann and William Nylander. According to the Leafs' coach, neither player has been ruled out for tomorrow's good

Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe declared William Nylander and Bobby McMann, who did not practice today, as "possibilities" for Game 1.

If the Maple Leafs look to end the curse that has plagued them they'll need to be ready for everything the Bruins can throw at them. This season Boston dominated the season series going 4-0, while outscoring the Leafs 15-8 during those games.

This season likely represents the Maple Leafs' core's final chance at playoff success together and the jobs of both Sheldon Keefe and Brendan Shanahan are likely on the line if the Leafs falter in the first round again.