The Maple Leafs will need to overcome playing a defenseman short as they hope to inch themselves two points closer to an Atlantic Division regular-season title when they close out the season series on HNIC against the Canadiens (7:00 p.m. EST, Sportsnet/CBC). source

Projected Lineup:

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Mitch Marner
Calle Jarnkrok -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Bobby McMann -- Max Domi -- Nicholas Robertson
Pontus Holmberg -- Scott Laughton -- Steven Lorentz

Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit -- Chris Tanev
Philippe Myers

Anthony Stolarz
Joseph Woll

Scratched: None

Injured: Jani Hakanpaa (lower body), Max Pacioretty (tightness), Jake McCabe (undisclosed), David Kampf (upper body), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (undisclosed)

Status report: Demidov took part in the Canadiens optional morning skate but will not play; the forward signed a three-year entry level contract Tuesday. ... Ekman-Larsson, a defenseman, is day to day and will not play after being injured in a 4-3 overtime win at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. ... The Maple Leafs will play with 17 skaters (five defensemen) because of roster limitations under the NHL salary cap. ... McCabe took part in Toronto's optional morning skate after not practicing Friday, but the defenseman will miss his fourth straight game.