  Tyler Bozak was back at Leaf practice on Monday, with an eye to resuming duties on the first line. (Ernest Doroszuk/QMI Agency)
|
TORONTO - The Maple Leafs had another new look to the lineup on Monday morning, while their farm team has some injury issues.
Tyler Bozak was back at practice, with an eye to resuming duties on the first line Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.
Darryl Boyce was missing, which would create the lineup hole to put Bozak back after seven games off with a suspected shoulder injury.
Bozak’s ability to play first-line minutes after his absence will be a question mark, as will where to put Tim Connolly, who was centring Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul.
Jake Gardiner’s demotion to the Marlies turned out to be for one game. After getting an assist on Sunday afternoon, he re-joined the Leafs, who play twice before the Marlies are back in action on Saturday with their outdoor game at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton against the Bulldogs.
Defenceman John-Michael Liles, who has been out almost a month with a concussion, was on the ice for Toronto for the first time prior to the main body workout at the MasterCard Centre, along with fellow concussion victim Colby Armstrong.
Concussions are also an issue next door with the Marlies, where goalie Jussi Rynnas is still going through protocol after getting a hard shot off the mask in St. John’s during last week’s road trip.
“It was a bad one, though it looks like he’s recovered quickly,” Marlies coach Dallas Eakins said. “Both of our teams don’t fool around with concussion protocol.”
The Marlies are keeping three goalies for the present: Rynnas, Mark Owuya and the struggling Ben Scrivens.
Demoted winger Colton Orr has an MCL sprain he suffered on the road and will be lost anywhere from four to eight weeks.
