Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube Shuffles Top 6 with Key Forward Sidelined

It was a bit of unfortunate news for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday as it was announced John Tavares was sidelined from the mandatory morning skate due to an illness and his status for the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins is up in the air.

Head coach Craig Berube needs to make some changes with his lineup if Tavares is going to be out, and he did so with one very surprising change:

Already registering a point in two games, Holmberg has shown relentless forechecking and drive so far this young season and hasn't looked out of place. Though it's still young, Holmberg has won nearly 60% of his faceoffs and already has four blocked shots, something Berube looked at and decided was worth more ice-time. For his career, Holmberg has 12 goals and 19 assists in his short time thus far with Toronto and has quietly been one of the more reliable if rugged bottom-line forwards. He isn't afraid to block shots, take and give hits, and kill penalties; all ingredients for success under Berube's guidance, and he's poised to have a big year if he's afforded opportunities like this.

The rest of the lineup is your standard fare and is identical to what lined up on Thursday minus the switch-up of Holmberg and McMann; Ryan Reaves who suited up in the season opener finds himself back in the lineup on Saturday as well. Anthony Stolarz will get the call for the Maple Leafs as he tries to get his first win in blue and white, having the 6'7 'Hildebeast' Dennis HIldeby backing him up.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins game takes place at 7 PM ET in Toronto's home opener at Scotiabank Arena.