Music: {allcanada} O'Reilly return this week not ruled out by Maple Leafs

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

{allcanada} O'Reilly return this week not ruled out by Maple Leafs

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Ryan O'Reilly's return from a broken finger is getting closer for the Maple Leafs, and coach Sheldon Keefe did not rule out the possibility that he could return this week.

"Just to continue to ramp him up and make sure things respond positively both as he is shooting more, handling pucks more and then also just making sure he's safe in terms of minimizing risk for re-injury," Keefe said Tuesday. "… I would call it unlikely to play this week but that hasn't been ruled out necessarily. I think the plan is more to ramp him up through this week and then look more towards next (week to return to play)."

The center has not played since Mar. 4 when he sustained the injury in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. O'Reilly had surgery and the initial time frame for a return was four weeks.

He took part in a skill development session including handling and shooting pucks with teammates on Tuesday but departed before the main session began.

"Today he didn't practice but he did everything but practice and he got a lot of work in individually himself before we even got out there," Keefe said. "The hope is he will continue to progress towards practice here."

O'Reilly has five points (three goals, two assists) in eight games with the Maple Leafs since being acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 17.

Forward Noel Acciari did not practice Tuesday after sustaining an undisclosed injury in a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Sunday. He will not play when Toronto hosts the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SN, BSFL, SN NOW, ESPN+).

"He's day to day at this point and not going to be available tomorrow," Keefe said.

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