#CSP #NHL #GOEDMONTON
A nearly full Maple Leafs lineup will play host to a Senators team light on NHL regulars in the first preseason home game of 2025-26
With Nicolas Roy, Simon Benoit, and Max Domi battling minor injuries (and Domi away for his grandfather’s funeral on Tuesday), Luke Haymes, Easton Cowan, and Ben Dandford are the three youngsters receiving opportunities inside a mostly NHL-calibre Leafs lineup tonight. In net, with Joseph Woll away on a leave of absence, Dennis Hildeby (expected to play two periods) and Arthur Akhtyamov have an opportunity to reassure Leafs brass about the reliability of their goaltending depth, with the length of Woll’s absence currently undetermined.
As for those jockeying among the roster locks, tonight marks the first look at Matias Maccelli on the Knies-Matthews line. Domi, before his injury, was originally penciled into the 1RW spot by the coaching staff, but this is undoubtedly a configuration Craig Berube was interested in evaluating at some point in preseason/early regular season, and the time came even earlier than expected.
“Maccelli is a guy who can make plays — we all know that — so that is going to be a big part of it,” said Berube at the outset of camp. “Is he making the right plays and the right decisions with the puck? Is he getting Matthews the puck enough for opportunities? It is just about him playing 200 feet, too. That line is going to play against good lines, so he needs to be solid defensively, too.”
