The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped to 1-4-0 on home ice on Saturday night following a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins.
With the day off to think things over on Sunday, head coach Randy Carlyle returned to the practice ice Monday with a new-look set of lines.
Gone is the roommate-tandem first line of Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak flanked by James van Riemsdyk.
Kessel drops to the Leafs’ second line with Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri while David Clarkson was promoted to the top line.
“Just a little bit of moving some bodies around a little bit,” said Carlyle following a practice, which concluded with some intense skating. “A little bit of change. We feel that we’re not really happy with our production 5-on-5, in the last little while, those things happen and hopefully it simulates more offense from our group.”
Daniel Winnik goes from the second line to join Mike Santorelli and Leo Komarov on the third line. The fourth line of Peter Holland between Richard Panik and Matt Frattin remained unchanged with Carter Ashton also taking shifts with the trio. Ashton has yet to play this season.
“Whenever you get an opportunity to play with those types of players… I’ve played with them in the past so hopefully we can generate some chemistry,” said Kadri. “Phil is going to use his speed, I’m going to have to just read off him and (Lupul) is big down low.”
Added Bozak: “We’re not playing our best so obviously they’re going to change things up. We had a rough game as a team last game so we’ve got to try and spark something here and get back in the win column.”
Toronto will entertain the Buffalo Sabres (2-7-0) on Tuesday night in search of their first regulation home ice win of the season.
