Ekman-Larsson will play vs. Oilers, Nylander, Joshua game-time decisions

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube indicated Friday that Ekman-Larsson would have to skate Saturday, before he declared him ready to go.

“Good news. We weren’t sure yesterday, but he feels ready and he’s good to go,” Berube said Saturday morning.

“It was kind of a freak thing out there. I got lucky. A guy fell on my left leg,” Ekman-Larsson said. “It happened so quick, the guy fell, he didn’t mean to do that. I was lucky to get out of it pretty quickly. It’s crazy how much can change in a day, or a day and a half.”

William Nylander and Dakota Joshua both did not participate in Saturday’s morning skate due to illness. Nylander and Joshua are both considered game-time decisions. Matias Maccelli skated in Joshua’s place on the third line alongside Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann during Saturday’s morning skate, while Nick Robertson was placed with Easton Cowan and John Tavares.

If Nylander and Joshua are available to play, it appears that Maccelli and one of Robertson or Calle Jarnkrok will be listed as healthy scratches. Berube said he has a contingency plan ready, but did not go into specifics.

“Great teammate. That’s the biggest thing. An unbelievable teammate. Great defenceman, and I’m happy to see him in such a big role. He’s playing good,” McDavid said of Stecher, following Saturday’s morning skate.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Oilers

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi

Easton Cowan-John Tavares-William Nylander*

Dakota Joshua*-Nicolas Roy-Bobby McMann

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher 

Simon Benoit-Henry Thrun

Dennis Hildeby (projected starter) 

Artur Akhtyamov