The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a key part of the blue line available against the Edmonton Oilers.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson told reporters Saturday that he feels good enough to play against the Oilers after he participated in morning skate. Head coach Craig Berube later confirmed that the Swede would be in the lineup.
There was initial concern after the veteran defenceman left Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks with a lower-body injury.
Ekman-Larsson was attempting to corral a loose puck along the board when Sharks centre Adam Gaudette fell on him, causing the blue-liner’s left ankle to bend at an awkward angle.
He was assisted off the ice by teammates after the incident. The 34-year-old had played just under 14 minutes and registered a single shot on goal before leaving the ice.
But while Ekman-Larsson was a full team participant at morning skate, the Leafs were a few bodies short.
Nylander snapped a four-game pointless drought with two assists against San Jose while skating 21:57 despite being bumped down to the third line with Joshua and Nicolas Roy. He remains the Leafs’ leading scorer with 11 goals and 34 points in 26 games.
Joshua has five goals and nine points in 29 games.
The Leafs host the Oilers Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
