Maple Leafs Make Lineup Changes Ahead of Oilers Matchup

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the road in Edmonton on Tuesday to take on the Oilers. The Leafs are dealing with a number of injuries and have made some lineup changes in preparation for Connor McDavid and company.

Defenseman Travis Dermott is expected back in the lineup, after missing a few games with a shoulder injury. Forward Ilya Mikheyev is expected to make his long awaited season debut after breaking his thumb in the preseason. And center Brett Seney has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies and will be centering the fourth-line against the Oilers.

Leafs’ projected lineup in Edmonton:

Bunting — Matthews — Kase
Kerfoot — Tavares — Nylander
Engvall — Kampf — Mikheyev
Clifford — Seney — Simmonds

Rielly — Brodie
Muzzin — Liljegren
Dermott — Holl

Campbell starts in goal
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) December 14, 2021

The Leafs will be without Nick Ritchie who is not feeling well and was held back in Toronto. Reports are it's not COVID-19 related. Leafs Nation will have to wait to see Zach Hyman suit up against his former team as it's been announced the Oilers forward will miss Tuesday's game due to injury.

All eyes are going to be on Mikheyev for Toronto, after a summer that included a trade request that was eventually denied by general manager Kyle Dubas. The speedy forward always seems to get chances and is involved with the play thanks to his wheels and work ethic. The only issue is he's snake bitten when it comes to lighting the lamp so perhaps this season will be a different story for the pending free-agent.

The Oilers have lost five in a row and always seem to rise up to the occasion against the Maple Leafs. Leafs Nation will be holding their breath as the referees were announced and that doesn't fair well for the Leafs...enjoy the game folks!

Brad Meier who screwed the leafs last time out reffing a game vs the Oilers who score a lot on the PP.

Yeah I see how this one is going to go. Never change NHL... https://t.co/IhqiDsiIdw
— Free Jason Spezza (@Leafguy38) December 14, 2021