In a surprising twist this weekend, the Toronto Maple Leafs will enter their crucial matchup against the Montreal Canadiens with only five defencemen. This unexpected situation arises from injuries to key players and salary cap constraints, leaving the team in a tight spot.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is sidelined due to a recent injury sustained during an overtime clash against Tampa, while Jake McCabe continues to battle through a nagging issue. With the team strapped for cash, they are unable to bring in additional help from the roster, forcing them to operate with a truncated defensive lineup for this big divisional battle.

Coach's Strategy Amidst Adversity

Leafs head coach Craig Berube expressed the challenges of playing short-handed, emphasizing the need for forwards to step up and support the defence. It’s important that our forwards do a good job of helping our D out, making sure they get back quick for breakouts, he stated, highlighting the necessity of minimizing extended shifts in their own zone.

A Tough Road Ahead

With both Ekman-Larsson and McCabe out, Simon Benoit is set to team up with Chris Tanev as the shutdown pairing. However, with only five defencemen rotating, the defensive pairings are likely to be unpredictable, adding to the uncertainty of an already challenging game.

The NHL's salary cap can prove tricky late in the season, often leaving teams juggling injuries and financial limitations. Similar situations have occurred in the league, with the Edmonton Oilers recently coping with just five defencemen as well.

Injuries Pile Up