Ice Chips: Tavares practices on second line, possible for season opener

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares took place in his second full practice since sustaining an oblique injury in late September and skated alongside William Nylander and Denis Malgin on the second line.

The 32-year-old continues to be cautious with the injury but says there is still a possibility he can play in the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.

Tavares says Wednesday is still possibility: “Chances continue to grow.” @BodogCA @RinkWideTOR

Tavares played 79 games last year, scoring 29 goals and adding 49 assists. Tavares has three years remaining on a seven-year, $77 million contract.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that Matt Murray would be the starting goaltender on Wednesday, while Ilya Samsonov would play against his former team, the Washington Capitals, on Thursday.

Keefe also stressed that the decision to have Nick Robertson start the season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies was a salary cap decision, as he is waiver exempt.

The Leafs skated with the following lines at practice:

Bunting - Matthews - Marner Nylander - Tavares - Malgin  Engvall - Kerfoot - Jarnkrok  Aston-Reese - Kampf - Aube-Kubel Holmberg, Robertson 

Rielly - Brodie Muzzin - Holl  Giordano - Sandin  Kral - Villeneuve

Murray  Samsonov

The Montreal Canadiens assigned five players to the AHL's Laval Rocket on Monday, meaning 2022 first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, 2020 first-round pick Kaiden Guhle, and undrafted defenceman Arber Xhekaj will start the season in Montreal. Defenceman Jordan Harris, who played 10 games with the Canadiens at the end of the 2021-22 season, also appears to be starting the season in Montreal.

Les Canadiens