Overview
- Coach Jim Hiller confirmed Saturday at the optional morning skate that John Tavares will return to the lineup against the Montreal Canadiens and that Sergei Bobrovsky will start in goal.
- Tavares has been practicing in a regular jersey and will skate on the left wing with Nick Paul and William Nylander after missing nine games with a lower-body injury sustained Oct. 15.
- The veteran forward will slot back onto the Maple Leafs’ top power-play unit with Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Jack Roslovic, and Darren Raddysh.
- Jack Roslovic has been a major offensive contributor with 18 points in 17 games and recently took a maintenance day, giving the Leafs options for workload management.
- The return gives Toronto a short-term lineup and special-teams boost as the club faces a tough home stretch of games and seeks more consistent results after going 5-4-0 without Tavares.