The Toronto Maple Leafs will be thin on the back end for Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.

Defenceman Morgan Rielly will not play, head coach Craig Berube confirmed. Rielly could possibly play on Saturday, Berube added.

“He’s dealing with something … I don’t know yet for tomorrow (whether Rielly plays),” Berube said on Thursday, per Terry Koshan of Postmedia.

Rielly, 31, has enjoyed a strong start to the season with two goals and four assists through seven games.

The Maple Leafs will also be without Chris Tanev after the defenceman was placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury on Thursday.

In other Leafs news, rookie Easton Cowan will make his return to the lineup after being scratched for Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

“He needs a reset, get a game t

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