November 28, 2023, 8:07 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner briefly left Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers after taking a puck to the face but later returned wearing a cage.
Marner was struck by a shot from Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk mid-way through the first period.
He skated off the ice on his own power but immediately went to the locker room. He returned for the start of the second period with the cage added to his helmet.
Marner is skating on a new line in this game, on the right side of a trio with Tyler Bertuzzi and John Tavares. The 26-year-old has 20 points in 19 games but has just three assists in seven games since Nov. 8.