After more than a month on the shelf with a right leg injury, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Andreas Johnsson has been removed from injured reserve and inserted into the lineup for Toronto’s game against the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
In a Dec. 4 game against the Colorado Avalanche, Johnsson knelt to block a Ryan Graves slap shot and took the puck off his shin/ankle area. He has not played since, but has practised for the past week.
In 30 games this season, Johnsson has six goals and 16 points.
He had grown accustomed to skating on a wing with centre Auston Matthews. But in Johnsson’s absence, coach Sheldon Keefe mixed up the lines and found chemistry for Matthews with Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman at his side.
On Sunday, Johnsson took pre-game rushes on the third line with Pierre Engvall and Kasperi Kapanen.
As Johnsson comes off IR, defenceman Jake Muzzin will go on it with a broken foot. Muzzin last played Dec. 27 against the New Jersey Devils, and has since been listed as week-to-week with his injury.
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