Leafs’ Lupul cleared to play Saturday against Jets
Posted March 15, 2013 1:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul has been cleared for contact and could play as early as Saturday, coach Randy Carlyle said Friday.
For the first time since a Dion Phaneuf slapshot broke his forearm on Jan. 23, Lupul practised on his own line Friday.
Lupul skated alongside Nazem Kadri and Nikolai Kulemin. Although the injured winger returned to practice back on March 3, prior to Friday he had been filling in as an extra on other trios.
Although Carlyle & Co. haven’t decided whether he’ll jump into the lineup immediately — the staff will wait to see how Lupul feels and then make a call collectively — Lupul’s availability couldn’t come at a better time.
Lupul, a 25-goal scorer last season, has only played in three contests this year. He has yet to register a point.
The Leafs are enduring their longest drought of the season. They have lost their last four games and managed to score only one goal in Thursday’s 3-1 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Toronto (seventh in the East) hosts the Winnipeg Jets (eighth) in an important match-up Saturday at Air Canada Centre.
