Sportsnet.ca — With the Toronto Maple Leafs in the midst of a three-game losing streak, head coach Paul Maurice plans on making some changes ahead of Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers.
Following the team skate on Friday, Maurice said he will split up the line of Kyle Wellwood, Darcy Tucker and Jason Blake because of their lack of production over the last week.
Both Blake and Wellwood have yet to register a point in the first four games of Toronto’s current seven-game road trip while Darcy Tucker last recorded a point on November 27th in a 4-3 shootout loss to Montreal.
Toronto won the first game of the road trip in Atlanta (4-0) last Friday, but have only scored four goals during their current slide.
Forward Nik Antropov did not skate with the hockey club Friday afternoon, taking a rest day instead. Antropov has been one of the lone bright spots for the Leafs this season, registering 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 35 games, trailing only Mats Sundin (40) for the team lead.
The Leafs are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. Vincent Lecavalier scored with 41.6 seconds left in the third period and newcomer Karri Ramo made 31 saves for the Lightning. Jason Ward also scored for Tampa while Matt Stajan had Toronto’s only goal.
