The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for a huge first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Game 1 set for Monday night, the Leafs got a key injury update on a pair of forwards ahead of the series-opening clash. Via Kristen Shilton, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe revealed that veteran winger Ondrej Kase would be suiting up for Toronto on Monday, however, Michael Bunting will be forced to miss the game.

Kase is set to make his long-awaited return from injury, having been sidelined since mid-March after sustaining a head injury and later being diagnosed with a concussion. Kase last skated for the Maple Leafs on March 19, when he played just over 6 minutes in a loss to the Nashville Predators before taking an elbow to the head and exiting the game.

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Kase has a history of head injuries, so Toronto was in no rush to get the 26-year-old back in action. His return will be a huge boost, however, as he was enjoying a career year before going down with the knock. Across 50 games this season, Kase had recorded 27 points, including 14 goals.

The loss of Bunting will be a significant blow for Toronto. The 26-year-old truly came into his own in his first year with the Maple Leafs. The rookie recorded a stellar 63 points in 2021-22, including 23 goals and 40 assists across 79 games.

He sustained an undisclosed injury in Toronto's overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on April 23 and has been sidelined since. Despite returning to practice over the weekend, Bunting is going to need a bit more time before he's ready to rejoin his teammates on the ice.