Toronto Maple Leafs star forward absent from practice, unlikely to play in home opener

The Maple Leafs have already been dealing with several preseason injuries, but things seemed to be getting back on track. Unfortunately Tavares is now dealing with an illness according to David Alter of The Hockey News:

It's unclear if Tavares is just resting ahead of the Penguins game, but his status remains uncertain. Coach Craig Berube has been preparing for his potential absence, adjusting the team's lines accordingly:

If Tavares misses the game, it will be a big loss for Toronto. However, since it's an illness, he likely won't be out for long. The Leafs will have to rely on their other top scorers and new players to step up in his absence.

Earlier this preseason, Tavares also missed time after taking a hit from Montreal Canadiens' forward Michael Pezzetta. While he returned to finish that game, he missed several practices afterward. Fortunately, it wasn't a serious injury, and Tavares was back on the ice soon after:

We will update you on Tavares' status as more information becomes available. The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to play against Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins in their home opener which is set to start at 7 pm ET.