The Toronto Maple Leafs may have some injury concerns heading into the post-season.
Leafs coach Randy Carlyle told reporters Saturday morning that centre Tyler Bozak has a lower-body injury and will be scratched from the team’s regular season finale Saturday night vs. the Montreal Canadiens.
The Regina native did not play in Toronto’s victory over the Florida Panthers Thursday after suffering a hard hit to the shoulder from Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Radko Gudas the night before.
The severity of Bozak’s injury remains unclear and the Leafs may be resting their No.1 centre so he is ready to go when the playoffs begin next week.
Nazem Kadri filled in on the top line at centre during Friday’s practice and is expected to take that role during Saturday’s game.
“I’ve wanted to play with those guys (Kessel and Lupul) for a while now and playing with special players like that has been awesome for me,” Kadri told the Toronto Star Friday.
“I always accept any challenge given, but you hope we are healthy for the playoffs.”
In 46 games this season, Bozak has 12 goals, 18 assists, with a minus-1 rating.