Toronto Maple Leafs Prepare to Play with Five Defencemen vs. Canadiens

The Toronto Maple Leafs will face the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday with only five defensemen due to injuries to Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe, alongside salary cap constraints that prevent them from calling up reinforcements from the AHL. Ekman-Larsson is sidelined with an undisclosed injury sustained during an overtime win against Tampa Bay, while McCabe has been out with an undisclosed issue as well. Leafs coach Craig Berube acknowledged the challenges of playing short-handed but emphasized the need for forwards to support the defense to minimize strain during the game. The team will be eligible to make an emergency recall for their next game against the Carolina Hurricanes if necessary. Despite the adversity, Berube remains optimistic about McCabe's potential return before the season ends. The situation highlights the difficulties NHL teams face with roster management and injuries as the playoffs approach.