NHL Buzz: McCabe, Lafferty to debut for Maple Leafs

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Toronto Maple Leafs

Defenseman Jake McCabe and forward Sam Lafferty are expected to make their Maple Leafs debuts against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; SN, ESPN+). Each practiced with Toronto for the first time Tuesday in Seattle after being traded by the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

McCabe, who is in his 10th NHL season, said he’s looking forward for the chance to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his career.

“It’s everything, really,” he said. “That’s what this game’s all about. Obviously, I haven’t been able to get there. Just to be able to have a chance to play in the playoffs is very important to me.

“I’m not going to change the way I play. I’m just defense first, have good gaps out there, good skating. You know, make life miserable, make like hard on the other team’s top players and do whatever it takes to win.”

The Maple Leafs (37-15-8) are second in the Atlantic Division, 19 points behind the first-place Boston Bruins and four ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Edmonton Oilers

Mattias Ekholm is expected to make his Oilers debut against the Maple Leafs one day after being acquired from the Nashville Predators.

“Obviously a veteran defender with great experience, good length, takes a lot of pride in the way he plays the game,” Edmonton coach Jay Woodcroft said. “I had an opportunity to speak to Mattias yesterday and he’s someone who’s very, very much excited to come to Edmonton, to bring his family to Edmonton, to raise his family in Edmonton and someone who’s excited about what we have going on in terms of our hockey club here. So you put all those factors in, and not only is he excited, but our team’s excited to have.”

With defenseman Tyson Barrie traded to Nashville as part of the Ekholm deal, Woodcroft said defenseman Evan Bouchard would take over his role as quarterback on the top power play unit.

“It’s never exciting to see someone go,” Bouchard said. “But it is a little bit of an opportunity for me and hopefully I can take it and run with it.”

The Oilers (32-21-8) are tied with the Seattle Kraken for third in the Pacific Division, four points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings.

Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin will miss his third game with a lower-body injury when the Buffalo Sabres visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, NESN, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW).

The defenseman, who is day to day, is also expected to be out Saturday when the Sabres host the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“He went on the ice this morning,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “I haven’t heard a report on that. We will hold him out tomorrow and he’ll stay back, get more rehab and get another report tomorrow to see where that day to day is. But today was [his] first day back on the ice.”

Dahlin has 62 points (14 goals, 48 assists), tied with forward Alex Tuch for second on the team. He leads Buffalo with a plus-23 rating.

“I don’t want to rush him back with the type of issue he’s dealing with, so I don’t expect him back Saturday,” Granato said.

Defenseman Riley Stillman, acquired Monday in a trade from the Vancouver Canucks, arrived in Buffalo but didn’t practice Wednesday as he waits for the immigration process to be finalized. 

“I wouldn’t be hesitant to use him when he does finish the immigration (process),” Granato said. “If we’re fortunate enough, he could be in the lineup tomorrow even though he didn’t practice today.” — Heather Engel