The Toronto Maple Leafs were summarily embarrassed on Wednesday night, getting pounded 6-3 at Nationwide Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The score is hardly indicative of how lopsided the game really was.
The Leafs were down 6-1 late in the third period before two late goals made the score closer than it really was. But it wasn’t just the sting of the loss that made Wednesday night’s game tough. It was the loss of yet another player to injury.
The Maple Leafs lost Steven Lorentz for the second time this season. The veteran forward sustained an upper-body injury after crashing head-first into the boards. The hit happened late in the second period.
Lorentz got up under his own power and skated to the bench. His frustration was evident as the officials failed to blow the play dead due to the injury. Instead, the officials allowed the play to continue. The Blue Jackets scored to make the game 5-1 at that point.
Here’s the entire sequence.
Lorentz sat on the bench for a few moments, talking to the training staff. The TV broadcast then showed training staff escorting Lorentz down the tunnel and into the dressing room. Given the injury’s nature, the Maple Leafs’ forward likely went into concussion protocol.
If that was the case, Lorentz would join Chris Tanev on the concussion watchlist. Tanev sustained an upper-body injury, suspected to be a concussion as well. Fortunately, it was nothing more than a scare.
Lorentz also went down earlier this season with an upper-body injury. He returned to the lineup after missing a handful of games. The 29-year-old has four assists in eight games this season.
Maple Leafs Dealing with Multiple Injuries Up Front
Another wounded Maple Leafs warrior is Calle Jarnkrok. The veteran forward did not play against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night and missed Wednesday night’s tilt in Columbus. The 34-year-old is out with a lower-body injury.
There is no firm return date for Jarnkrok at this time. It’s worth noting that Jarnkrok missed almost all of last season while recovering from surgery for a sports hernia. He made it back into the lineup towards the end of the regular season. Jarnkrok saw postseason action, but wasn’t as effective as hoped.
Jarnkrok is in the final year of his current deal with the Maple Leafs. He’s been the subject of trade speculation throughout the summer. This latest injury setback could effectively take him off the market for good this season.
Leafs Blais Gets into Lineup, Scores Goal
If there was a silver lining from Wednesday night’s debacle, it was Sammy Blais getting into the lineup.
Blais was a waiver pickup at the end of training camp. The 29-year-old had been a candidate to make the Montreal Canadiens, but ended up getting cut towards the end of camp. The Habs tried to sneak him through waivers, but the Maple Leafs claimed him.
Blais got into his first NHL game since April 17, 2024, when he was a member of the St. Louis Blues. He ended up picking up a goal and an assist in the losing effort. Given the injuries piling up for the Maple Leafs, fans could be getting an extended look at Blais.
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