COLUMBUS, Ohio – Joffrey Lupul has a bone bruise in his foot and his status is questionable for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ game at the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Lupul was absent from the morning skate at Nationwide Arena, and coach Randy Carlyle expects a determination to be made in the afternoon whether the winger will be able to suit up not long after taking a shot to his right foot in practice.
“Unless he has a speedy recovery here in the next four hours, we’ll make a decision when he is able to come to the rink and prep himself for tonight,” Carlyle said.
Lupul’s problem is more a weight-bearing one than being able to get his foot into his skate, according to Carlyle, who said Josh Leivo would replace him in the lineup if he cannot play. Leivo took line rushes Friday morning in Lupul’s place alongside Jay McClement and Nazem Kadri.
Carlyle expressed some displeasure Thursday about his players not wearing shot-blockers to protect their feet in practice.
“(The message) was just about common sense, guys,” he said. “You don’t drive your car anymore without a seat belt. It’s basically the same principle.”
Right-winger David Clarkson is set to make his Leafs debut after serving a 10-game suspension. He practised with Mason Raymond and David Bolland yet again but doesn’t know if that’ll be the line Friday night.
“It’s exciting to be back and a part of something,” Clarkson said. “I’ll know more after the game but it’s definitely exciting to be back and be back at it again and a part of the locker-room. Just the little things you miss not being around the guys.”
Carlyle and his staff has cautioned Clarkson not to try to do too much in his Leafs debut.
“We’re not asking him to do anything other than just play a game, play a solid game,” he said. “Be an up-and-down winger, bang and crash when he has the opportunity, go to the net. It’s not going to be any different than what we’re going to ask him 10 games from now.”
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier is expected to start. He’s 2-1 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in his career against the Blue Jackets.
Toronto could get Frazer McLaren back after the enforcer missed significant time with a broken right pinky finger, though that was unclear at the morning skate. Carlyle said Toronto had the option of playing McLaren or Troy Bodie on the fourth line with Colton Orr and Trevor Smith.
Blue Jackets tough guy Jared Boll missed the morning skate with a stomach illness, but coach Todd Richards said he didn’t expect it to be enough to keep him out against the Leafs.
Reigning Vezina Trophy-winner Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to start in goal for Columbus.
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