Red-hot Leafs hit road without Marner after positive COVID test

The Maple Leafs are hitting the road — and preparing to once again play in front of fans — minus one of their stars.

The team announced Friday that Mitch Marner and fellow winger Pierre Engvall have been placed into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said both players were experiencing mild symptoms after testing positive as their teammates prepared to open a four-game road trip today against the Colorado Avalanche.

“It’s just the reality of the situation,” Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said following practice before the club flew to Denver. “Everybody’s going through it. We’ve just got to keep focused on the guys we have.

“Next man up and get out there and work.”

Marner, who missed six December games with a shoulder injury, and Engvall are the 16th and 17th players off Toronto’s roster forced into isolation since the team suffered through a coronavirus outbreak last month, but the only two currently sidelined.

Leafs defenceman Timothy Liljegren rejoined the group Monday, while No. 1 centre Auston Matthews had a COVID-19 scare this week with a false positive before being cleared to play in Wednesday’s 4-2 home victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

Seven staff members, including Keefe, have also gone through the league’s protocol.

The Leafs returned to action New Year’s Day following their outbreak with a 6-0 win over the severely undermanned Ottawa Senators before that decision against Edmonton, which was also shorthanded with three players — including Connor McDavid — out due to the coronavirus.

“That’s the world we’re living in,” Toronto forward Jason Spezza said of his side’s current absences. “We’ve kind of gotten used to it.”

The Leafs have also gotten used to winning regardless of who’s in or out of the lineup — whether it’s due to injury, suspension or COVID-19.

Toronto owns a league-topping 20-4-1 record and an .820 points percentage since starting the season a sluggish 2-4-1. The Leafs rank first in goals against (2.16), third in goals for (3.80), first in goal differential (41) and first on the power play (35.2 per cent) over that span.

No. 1 netminder Jack Campbell, meanwhile, has gone 15-3-1 with a NHL-best .944 save percentage and 1.73 goals-against average to go along with four shutouts.