Toronto Maple Leafs top defenceman Morgan Rielly will miss his sixth consecutive game with a lower-body injury on Tuesday versus the Dallas Stars, coach Mike Babcock announced.
“I want to do just about everything I can to come back as soon as possible. Whatever that is, I’ll do,” Rielly told reporters Monday. “This is a big road trip. We’re playing lots of good teams.”
Rielly spent the all-star break working with the training staff to rehabilitate his injury but admitted there are limitations “here and there” on the ice. He did participate in the morning skate.
“It’s managing your pain, managing your lungs after not playing for a while,” Rielly said. “It’s a challenge just playing these teams when you’re healthy.”
[relatedlinks]
The 22-year-old suffered the injury on Jan. 17 in the first period of a win over the Buffalo Sabres when he collided with Sabres winger William Carrier, falling awkwardly into the boards. He came up favouring his right leg and would eventually leave the game.
The Leafs have gone 2-2-1 in Rielly’s absence.
Rielly has averaged nearly 23 minutes a game and amassed 17 points this season.
The defenceman described being sidelined as a test of patience and will work toward a return Thursday.
Following their game in Dallas, the Leafs travel to St. Louis (Thursday), Boston (Saturday) and Brooklyn (Monday) before returning home.
“If you’re not in, you’re not in,” Babcock said. “Next man up. Whoever’s ready is supposed to be prepared to do a good job and help us win. I think [Martin Marincin] has done a real good job, our D’s been solid, and our goaltending’s been good.”
