Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby will start Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Craig Berube confirmed to travelling reporters.
Hildeby posted a 4-6-4 record with a .884 save percentage this season.
Berube also confirmed that William Nylander will miss Saturday’s game, and is considered doubtful for Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild with a lower-body injury.
“That’s a good question. I can’t answer that. With the last one, I thought it would be quicker, and it obviously wasn’t. We’ll just see how he feels going forward. I can’t really answer that question,” Berube said of Nylander after Friday’s practice, when asked about a timeline for his return.
Calle Jarnkrok will re-enter the lineup, after being rendered a healthy scratch for Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Jarnkrok has recorded six goals in 28 games, scoring the Leafs’ lone goal in Tuesday’s loss to the Utah Mammoth.
Simon Benoit will also miss a second consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. Benoit was listed as day-to-day. Philippe Myers will likely remain in the lineup in Benoit’s absence.
Jacob Quillan is reportedly expected to join the team Saturday, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be immediately slotted into the lineup. Quillan did not record a point in three appearances with the Maple Leafs this season. He has recorded eight goals and 27 points in 28 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
Toronto will be looking to get back in the win column, after surrendering a 5-3 lead in an overtime loss to Vegas on Thursday. Berube called out his team after blowing yet another third-period lead, following the game.
“We got off to a great start and I thought we played really well tonight for the most part of the game,” Berube said. “We just gotta be smarter in certain situations, that’s what it boils down to tonight. I think we played a solid game tonight, but we made some mistakes that we don’t need to make in the third period.”
Maple Leafs’ projected lines vs. Jets
Bobby McMann-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-Matthew Knies
Easton Cowan-Nicolas Roy-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Philippe Myers
Dennis Hildeby (confirmed starter)
Joseph Woll