Max Pacioretty to return vs. Penguins, Nikita Grebenkin scratched, Joseph Woll will start

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty will officially make his return to the lineup, while Nikita Grebenkin has been scratched for Saturday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach Craig Berube confirmed via travelling reporters.

Pacioretty was activated from long-term injured reserve earlier Saturday, while Jake McCabe was placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 30, which would allow the Maple Leafs to activate him whenever he’s deemed ready to return from injury. He suffered the lower-body injury during a November 9 game against the Montreal Canadiens, where he clutched the back of his leg after getting hit by Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson. Pacioretty has been skating throughout the week and has participated in practices.

Piggybacking off Craig Berube’s comments from practice today, it sounds like there’s a good chance Max Pacioretty could return to the lineup as soon as this weekend —possibly Saturday night in Pittsburgh.

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) December 3, 2024

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McCabe left Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lighting after taking a puck to the face and will miss his fourth consecutive game. Berube told reporters that McCabe and Max Domi may join the team in Newark ahead of Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

The 36-year-old Pacioretty recorded two goals and six points in 13 games this season, and can be deployed throughout the lineup. While it’s unclear at the time of this filing whether Pacioretty will directly slot in onto the fourth line alongside Connor Dewar and Ryan Reaves, it’s possible he replaces Pontus Holmberg on Toronto’s second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander.

Pacioretty originally joined the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout agreement and after a stellar training camp, signed a one-year deal worth $873,770, with two performance bonuses each worth $313,115 upon reaching the 10-game and 35-game marks.

Grebenkin was called up during a wave of injuries and made his NHL debut against the Vegas Golden Knights on November 20. He has not registered a point in seven games, but has established himself as a physical presence on the wing and could find his way back into the lineup if injuries continue to mount for the Maple Leafs.

Nick Robertson has also been scratched, with Alex Nylander factoring back into the lineup.

Appears Nick Robertson is getting healthy scratched for Alex Nylander, according to Leafs line rushes.

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) December 7, 2024

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Joseph Woll will start for the Maple Leafs. Woll has won his past six starts, compiling a 7-2-0 record with a .922 save percentage and 2.11 goals against average this season.