Maple Leafs Practice Saw Two Notable Absences

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who have had a strong performance with a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games, experienced some setbacks in their preparations for the upcoming game against the Ottawa Senators. The team had a day off on Monday and returned to practice on Tuesday, anticipating the return of two key players, Timothy Liljegren and Ilya Samsonov. However, things did not go as expected.

Timothy Liljegren, recovering from a high-ankle sprain since November 2nd, was slated to join the practice possibly as an extra. However, he did not participate in the practice session after skating on his own earlier. This raises concerns about a potential setback in his recovery, though it's also possible that the team is just being extra cautious. The lack of complete information means that fans and the team are in a waiting mode to understand the full extent of his situation.

Ilya Samsonov, returning after missing time due to an unspecified illness, briefly joined the practice but left just a few minutes into the session and did not return. This indicates that while he attempted to gauge his readiness, he likely realized he wasn't fully prepared to resume. This departure could mean that the team might have to recall Martin Jones from the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Jones was previously sent back to the Marlies but might be needed to accompany the team to Ottawa, especially if Samsonov is unable to play. This move would be a precaution to avoid the necessity of using an Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG) in the upcoming game.