In the NHL, one man’s misery is another’s opportunity.
So, just when it appeared that Ryan Reaves might have to continue waiting on the wrong side of the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ lineup, an unfortunate practice injury to Calle Järnkrok has opened a chance for Reaves to skate in his first game in more than six weeks.
Reaves suffered a knee injury back on Dec. 14 and was taken off injured reserve earlier this week.
The veteran fourth-liner was slated to be a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game in hometown Winnipeg — until a Timothy Liljegren shot broke a knuckle on Järnkrok’s left hand during Friday’s practice.
Coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters at Canada Life Centre that Järnkrok will be “week to week” as his hand recovers.
Järnkrok, a versatile two-way forward, ranks fifth in team goals (10) and shares the club lead, with Auston Matthews, in plus/minus (plus-13).
He’ll be missed.
“He is very consistent in who he is in terms of his details,” Keefe said. “You can play him anywhere, in any position. He can help on the power play and penalty kill. A very important player for us. He is a guy who doesn’t get much attention, but inside our room I think he has a great deal of respect that he has earned over how he plays the game.”
Captain John Tavares echoed the sentiment: “His ability to play anywhere in the lineup with anyone is a great trait of his. Everyone enjoys playing with him because of what he brings to the table and how he complements everyone really well. Someone we rely a lot upon.”
The silver lining here is that, following Saturday’s rematch against the Jets, Toronto has an eight-day break before hosting the New York Islanders on Feb. 5.
With depth winger Bobby McMann on injured reserve due to an undisclosed ailment, the eager-to-play Reaves gets his chance in prime time.
“He’ll get his opportunity to rejoin the team,” Keefe said. “Reavo’s played a long time. He’s been in this position, coming in and out of the lineup, lots in his career. I think he knows exactly who he is as a player and what he needs to do.
“He’ll give the room and the bench and the guys a little bit of a boost. It’ll be an emotional game here tonight, so it’s good timing for that.”
One-Timers: Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (lower body) will not play, but there is a chance Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey could draw in. Both are game-time decisions…. Ilya Samsonov vs. Connor Hellebuyck is the goaltending matchup. “I don’t want to say nothing about, ‘I’m back’ or ‘Not back.’ I’m here right now,” Samsonov, who shut out the Jets Wednesday, told reporters…. Tyler Bertuzzi missed Wednesday’s win. He returns to the Leafs after he and his wife welcomed their second child into the world…. Mark Giordano draws in after getting healthy scratched for consecutive games.
Maple Leafs projected lineup Saturday in Winnipeg:
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Bertuzzi – Tavares – Nylander
Robertson – Domi – Hölmberg
Gregor – Kämpf – Reaves
Rielly – Brodie
Benoit – McCabe
Giordano – Liljegren
Samsonov starts
Jones