Max Pacioretty Feels '100 Percent' To Return From Injury Against Wild, Maple Leafs Feel Veteran's Net Presence Was Missed

Max Pacioretty was a full participant at Toronto Maple Leafs practice and is fully expected to return to the lineup when the club hosts the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.

"I'm 100 percent and just wanted to err on the side of caution," Pacioretty said following practice.

The veteran forward skated on the club's third line at practice alongside Fraser Minten and Nick Robertson on Tuesday. With Pacioretty set to return, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube feels the 36-year-old's net presence has been missed.

"The size and guy that can get to the net, around the net," Berube said. "We went over some stuff today about the Ottawa game. We had the puck a lot in the offensive zone. Did a lot of good things, but still need to generate some second and third chances around the net a little bit more and some greasy goals. We didn't do enough of that in that game."

Pacioretty was injured by doing what Berube pointed out was lacking. He parked himself in front of the net trying to deflect a shot from Auston Matthews in a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 18, but the puck hit him square in the head. The forward remained in the game but went on to miss the next three games.

"It's just one of those where, given the circumstances, it's better to be smart right now and make sure that when I do return, I feel 100 percent," Pacioretty said. "I think that's kind of the goal and why they've put a lot of emphasis on, you know, those injuries and protection of the players. "I just wanted to get back to feeling confident. I feel confident right now."

Related: Max Pacioretty Expected To Join Maple Leafs For Practice Next Week, No Timeline On Connor Dewar Injury

The Leafs signed Pacioretty to a one-year deal worth $1,500,000 including games-played incentives, just before the season began and are counting on the veteran's ability to perform in the playoffs come April.

"We just talked about, like, given this time of the year, there's a lot of hockey, a lot of guys are banged up, and these are probably the times where you see a break coming up and you've got to make sure that you probably don't want to risk everything right now and put all your eggs in one basket and get to the break and not feel good," Pacioretty explained. "So if it's playoffs, it's another situation. The guys probably, you know, play through a little bit more. But right now it's really, the guys are being really smart, I think, and the team is as well. I'm making sure that, you know, guys don't play too banged up."

The Leafs have scored just two goals in their last two games, both of which Pacioretty missed.

The 36-year-old has 25 goals and 25 assists in 78 career playoff games. He has five goals and seven assists in 32 games with the Leafs this season.

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