Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin will be sidelined for the rest of the team’s qualifying-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets after he was taken off the ice on a stretcher following a collision with Oliver Bjorkstrand in Game 2, the club announced Wednesday.
The Leafs say the veteran D-man is back at the team’s hotel after being taken to hospital and was discharged overnight. He will remain in quarantine at the hotel and look to rejoin his teammates upon recovery.
Muzzin’s injury occurred with less than two minutes to go in the game. As the defenceman chased the puck behind the net, he was knocked down to the ice by Pierre-Luc Dubois and, while attempting to stand, slid into Bjorkstrand’s legs.
A trainer came out to look at Muzzin, who attempted to stand after the incident, but after he couldn’t get up on his skates the trainer helped him lay down on his back and a stretcher was quickly brought out. Muzzin’s eyes were open and he could be seen moving his arms and legs while laying on the ice.
The 31-year-old is a key cog on the Maple Leafs’ blue line. In 53 games this season he had 23 points, a plus-12 rating and 40 penalty minutes.
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