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O’Reilly practises, taking big step in eventual return to Maple Leafs lineup

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Ryan O'Reilly of the Toronto Maple Leafs scores against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres during a game at KeyBank Center on February 21, 2023 in Buffalo.
Ryan O'Reilly of the Toronto Maple Leafs scores against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres during a game at KeyBank Center on February 21, 2023 in Buffalo. Photo by Kevin Hoffman /Getty Images

Ryan O’Reilly can’t wait to get out of the red. 

The Maple Leafs centre on Friday practised with his teammates for the first time since breaking a finger on his left hand, marking a significant step in his eventual return to the lineup.

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The next step will be swapping out the red sweater, which signifies non-contact, for a white or blue one in practice.  

“It feels good, we’re progressing,” O’Reilly said. “Not 100% yet. We have to be smart. The goal is to be 100% for the playoffs, so we’re being smart with that. It was nice to get out there and skate with the guys, but we’re getting closer.

“I don’t like being in red, it stands out a little too much.”

O’Reilly was hurt when he was hit by a shot by Auston Matthews on March 4 in Vancouver against the Canucks. O’Reilly had surgery three days later. 

“I didn’t really know (the severity of the injury) until I got off (the ice),” O’Reilly said. “I saw it was crooked and kind of knew it wasn’t good. We saw the X-ray and it was disappointing, but it was good news (in) that it wasn’t later in the season.”

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How will O’Reilly know he is ready to play in a game again? He doesn’t have a specific game in mind for his return.

“Shooting and passing feels great,” the 32-year-old said. “It’s the other stuff, the stick battles and just being being able to trust it and be 100% strong in that.

“I feel like I could push it harder, but there’s no point. We have to just be smart with it. Make sure it heals the right way and that will help me down the road.”

The Leafs also don’t have forward Noel Acciari, who skated on his own before practice. Coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Acciari has a neck injury, and said Acciari won’t play for a few games yet.

Keefe said he has his ideal lineup in mind when, or if, everyone is healthy. The Leafs have eight games remaining in the regular season.

“I do, if the playoffs were to start today or tomorrow,” Keefe said. “But a lot can happen over the course of eight games, whether it’s injury or performance. We have a sense of what we would do, but until we have all the information, there is no need to solidify anything necessarily.”

Forward Wayne Simmonds was absent from practice because he was sick, and in a corresponding move, the Leafs recalled forward Radim Zohorna from the Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis. 

Zohorna skated on a line with O’Reilly and Zach Aston-Reese. 

Keefe wouldn’t confirm whether Ilya Samsonov or Matt Murray will start in Ottawa against the Senators on Saturday. Whoever backs up will get the call to start on Sunday at home against the Detroit Red Wings. 

tkoshan@postmedia.com

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