Maple Leafs’ Muzzin out for rest of series
Defensive depth is being tested quickly for the Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs, who are just two games into a five-game series in the playoff qualifying round.
Knotted at a game apiece, both teams practiced Wednesday with defensemen in their top three pairings who didn’t skate in the first two games. The Maple Leafs said Jake Muzzin will miss the rest of the series after he was carted off the ice Tuesday in Game 2, while Blue Jackets defenseman Dean Kukan could be replaced in Game 3 on Thursday night in Toronto.
Muzzin was injured late in the third period of the Maple Leafs’ 3-0 victory Tuesday, appearing to lunge headfirst into the back of Oliver Bjorkstrand’s leg after being cross-checked by Blue Jackets center Pierre-luc Dubois.
The play initially looked harmless, as Muzzin lost his balance behind the Toronto net after the cross-check. It quickly became a dangerous situation when Muzzin got tangled with Bjorkstrand a second later.
After 14-plus minutes on the ice, Muzzin was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment, which forced his exit from the NHL’S quarantine “bubble” in Toronto. That means he would have to quarantine in a room at the team’s hotel within the bubble for at least four days to regain clearance to play.
That appears to be a moot point, however. The Maple Leafs released a statement Wednesday saying that Muzzin will miss the rest of the series and stay quarantined in the team hotel with the hope of returning in an upcoming round of the playoffs.
Martin Marincin practiced on Toronto’s third pairing and is expected to play there in Game 3.
Kukan, meanwhile, practiced Wednesday but skated with Scott Harrington on the team’s extra defense pairing. Markus Nutivaara filled Kukan’s spot at right point on the third pairing, skating with Ryan Murray.
It was unclear early Wednesday afternoon whether Kukan’s apparent demotion was tied to his play in Game 2 or a lingering physical issue stemming from a big hit by Toronto’s Kyle Clifford 2:16 into the game.
Kukan left the game after the hit, which rocked his head back and dropped him to the ice, but returned later in the first period and finished the game.
“Kuks is fine, but we have a number of defensemen that will be ready to go,” coach John Tortorella said after the game. “But Kuks seemed to be fine.”
Other changes ahead?
The Blue Jackets released the team’s forward lines and defensive pairings from practice on Twitter, which showed some possible line juggling among forwards in the offing.
Captain Nick Foligno went from left wing on the top line to the same position on the third line, skating with center Boone Jenner and rookie Liam Foudy.
Rookie Alexandre Texier skated in Foligno’s former spot, with center Pierre-luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson, and Bjorkstrand moved into Atkinson’s previous spot at right wing on the second line.
The fourth line of Eric Robinson, Riley Nash and Emil Bemstrom remained intact. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger