The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without defenceman Jake Muzzin for at least three weeks, revealed head coach Sheldon Keefe on Monday. Muzzin was forced to leave Game 6 versus the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury and on Monday, it was passed along that he was not only going to be out Game 7, but for a while, if the Leafs advance in the playoffs. Rasmus Sandin, who had been alternating a lineup spot with Travis Dermott, will dress in Muzzin’s place for Game 7 Monday.
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This is not the type of news the Maple Leafs needed to hear as the pressure is squarely on their shoulders to shake a terrible history of winning series-clinching games. As James Mirtle wrote: “Muzzin injury is just brutal for Leafs. One of hardest players for them to replace.”
The team lost John Tavares in Game 1, Nick Foligno was out some time and Muzzin now gone only adds to the stress levels that must be at an all-time high. Some are saying ahead of tonight’s game that this Maple Leafs’ team is simply cursed.
If the Leafs are going to win, they need to have some of their big-name guys step forward. Keefe noted that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner really need to up their game. “They need to be difference-makers for us,” he said. Saying they aren’t down on their game, “Obviously there’s been increasing tension on it since we lost the last couple of games .”
As for how Tavares is doing, he skated in a blue jersey at the team’s optional skate Monday morning. Keefe says their captain is progressing well “in regards to the knee” and adds “he’s had no setbacks” regarding his concussion.
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