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That would leave Saturday’s home game against Chicago, with hope that Muzzin might return the week of Jan. 26 now that he’s resumed light skating.

“Hopefully, I get to play a game soon,” Liljegren said, “but I’m just trying to enjoy every moment up here to practice and hang around the boys, getting acclimatized to the locker room and used to the tempo in practices. I watch the games live and that helps me gain a little bit of experience.”

He and roommate Sandin were both having good years with the Marlies and study Leafs games together when their team isn’t playing.

“We’re pretty close friends, I’m happy for him,” Liljegren said of Sandin.

While not playing Liljegren, Keefe has been talking him up in the media.

“We’ve been having a good dialogue for years,” said Liljegren, part of the Marlies’ 2018 Calder Cup team. “In practice as well, he talks to me a lot and makes it easier for me. It’s good to play big minutes with the Marlies, too, so I think it’s a balance.”

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POPCORN CONNECTION

Mike Palmateer is not an unknown name to Frederik Andersen, who tied the Harold Ballard-era goalie for fifth in franchise wins in Tuesday at 129. The (Popcorn Kid) was about half Andersen’s size and played a dramatically different style.

“He was around for the outdoor game at BMO Field (the alumni match in 2017 before the main Leafs-Wings bout) and I saw him on the ice a bit,” Andersen said. “His gear was hanging next to ours. Obviously a lot has happened (to equipment) since then. He made a nice glove save, I remember. It’s a good sign when you’re up there (in record territory) with him.”