Spezza, Holl to make series debut for Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 3

Jason Spezza will make his series debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight in Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

TAMPA, Fla. — Jason Spezza will make his series debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight in Game 3 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 38-year-old forward sat out the first two contests as a healthy scratch after suiting up 71 times in the regular season.

Spezza, who registered 12 goals and 13 assists in 2021-22, skated on the fourth line at the morning skate with Colin Blackwell and Pierre Engvall.

Leafs defenceman Justin Holl is also set to draw in after sitting out Monday’s 5-0 victory and Wednesday’s 5-3 loss in Toronto. He replaces Timothy Liljegren on the third pair with Mark Giordano.

Toronto winger Kyle Clifford is available after serving a one-game suspension for boarding on Tampa’s Ross Colton in the opener, but is projected to be scratched along with Wayne Simmonds.

The hard-nosed forward took two undisciplined penalties that led to a pair of power-play goals against in Game 2 against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

“I don’t think words can describe how hard it is to watch a game when you’re a player,” Spezza said after the morning skate. “It’s difficult, but it’s part of the process of being on a team.

“We have a great team here. We’re gonna need to use our depth throughout playoffs, but as a player, it’s one of the hardest things you do.”