A flu-like illness has knocked out several Toronto Maple Leafs players

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The early flu season is giving the Maple Leafs as much grief as opposing penalty killers.

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When a slightly slimmer John Tavares returned to Tuesday's practice, William Nylander was absent and, like Tavares, could miss the game, in this case Wednesday's home game against the Los Angeles Kings.

“It's all up in the air right now,” head coach Carig Berube said of Nylander's availability. “I hope nothing happens to him, we'll see.

“We also had more players (sick), but they were able to continue playing. We have to keep an eye on this. But it was great to see JT on the field today getting through practice. He seemed to lack energy, but he's a good professional, he went out, worked up a sweat and I'm sure he'll feel better later.

Tavares, who rarely misses games, admitted he lost a few pounds before being ruled out of Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.

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“I'm still recovering and getting my energy back,” he said, although he hasn't had any related stomach problems. “I haven't been on the ice for a few days, so hanging out with the guys was a lot of fun. But you notice the difference.

While many players do not want to be perceived as weak because they allow non-hockey issues to take them out of the lineup, care must be taken to prevent the bug from spreading throughout the team's tight locker room and travel environment, which could lead to more players being ordered to remain in home.

There is also veteran Max Pacioretty.

“I have five children,” he joked. “I'm coming home and if you want it, you'll get it.”

Regardless of whether Tavares returns or Nylander is out, whoever takes the starting spot on the power play will need to perform better against the Kings than they did in the first three games. The team is in a tough spot at 0 for October 9, 1 for 30, counting last year's playoff loss to Boston.

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Pacioretty joined Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Matthew Knies and defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the top group on Wednesday.

Berube believed the 35-year-old left winger still has the fire to shoot the puck and, with his new, talented Toronto partners, can be effective with an extra player and more ice.

The drills emphasized puck touches and movement, some of them 5-on-2.

“Don't vacuum, just swipe quickly,” Berube insisted. “Sometimes power plays stagnate or stay stagnant because they don't see it and don't get the PK moving fast enough.

“(Wednesday practice) just has more contacts and more opportunities to shoot pucks when there are only two killers on the court. It's something we've done in the past and it makes (power play participants) feel good.”

Toronto also noted that the Kings gave up four power-play goals in a wild 8-7 loss Monday in Ottawa.

At 5v5 on Tuesday, Tavares found himself sandwiched between Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg, with Max Domi keeping Bobby McMann and Pacioretty together.

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Perhaps Berube will have three healthy goalkeepers soon, provided Joseph Woll continues to train due to complications with a lower-body strain that put him on injured reserve last week. In his place, Anthony Stolarz is 1-1, including Saturday's decision over Pittsburgh, and Dennis Hildeby won his NHL debut in New Jersey.

At the end of camp, Berube made it clear that it would be a win-win for Woll and Stolarz, and while he didn't commit to facing Stolarz on Tuesday, he noted how well he played in Saturday's 4-2 final, making 21 saves.

Hildeby is Woll's replacement for now, but the potential long layoff is what attracted free agent Stolarz to the Leafs.

For the second day in a row, Timothy Liljegren trained in the third pair with Simon Benoitema. The Swede is looking forward to his seasonal debut. He will likely collide with Conor Timmins.

lhornby@postmedia.com

X:@sunhornby

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