After defenceman Jake McCabe said he’s good to go for the series opener against the Ottawa Senators, Leafs head coach Craig Berube also “expects” lefty Oliver Ekman-Larsson to play in Sunday’s Game 1.

Ekman-Larsson last played on April 9 due to an upper-body injury.

He practised Saturday alongside Simon Benoit on Toronto’s third pair, but Berube was still uncertain of the veteran’s availability for Game 1. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Berube said after practice.

Ekman-Larsson enjoyed a solid first season in the blue and white, ranking second amongst blue-liners on the team with four goals and 25 assists. The 33-year-old scored two goals and added four helpers during Florida’s Stanley Cup run last season.

Puck drop for Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario is at 7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.