In the wake of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 12th loss in their past 13 games, the team’s injury troubles have worsened.
Joffrey Lupul, the team’s oft-injured winger, will be out of the lineup for about a week, coach Peter Horachek told reporters after practice Wednesday.
And star sniper Phil Kessel, who skated on the club’s fourth line Wednesday, is dealing with an undisclosed injury of his own.
Kessel, a minus-4, skated a season-low 12:57 in the Leafs’ 5-4 loss to the New York Rangers Tuesday.
He was the first Leaf to leave the ice Wednesday and declined to address the media.
“You wanna see ’em working on their trade, but I wasn’t very happy with him last night,” Horachek told reporters. “Everyone has to take their different approach, and he’s dealing with things injury-wise, too.
“It’s about the whole team. This isn’t about whether Phil does what he does or doesn’t do.”
Lupul’s lower-body injury dates back to the New Year’s Eve game versus Boston when Bruins forward Milan Lucic fell on him.
Captain and defenceman Dion Phaneuf is still out with a hand injury. He was hopeful to be back in the lineup by now but is listed as week-to-week.
Cody Franson was absent from practice Wednesday due to maintenance.
On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs recalled defenceman Petter Granberg from the AHL Marlies.
Toronto visits the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
