The Toronto Maple Leafs won their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. Nevertheless, it ended on a somber note when defenseman Chris Tanev had to depart the ice on a stretcher after a collision with Matvei Michkov. It was a scary moment for the Leafs and Tanev, as he had just returned after a four-game absence with an upper-body injury. The team did get some excellent news post-game, despite how concerning it looked within the moment.
“The Maple Leafs announced today that defenceman Chris Tanev was evaluated overnight in Philadelphia for precautionary purposes, has been discharged this morning, and can return home to Toronto,” via the team’s PR social media account.
The Leafs will likely be without their shutdown defenseman for a minimum of a short while, because the organization will probably be cautious about allowing his upper-body injuries to build up. The 35-year-old plays a physical game and is not afraid to take a number of hits. He’s the form of defenseman that each locker room likes to have, but physical well-being is all the time a priority.
Toronto returned its entire defense corps this season after last yr’s second-round playoff exit. They hoped that some familiarity would make them a more cohesive defensive unit, however the returns have not been there yet. This edition of the Leafs’ core has had some slow starts up to now, so it’s not time to completely write them off. Nevertheless, head coach Craig Berube can have some concerns in regards to the group if Tanev has to miss a substantial period of time.
The Leafs are currently fifth-last within the NHL with 3.67 goals allowed per game. Many of the blame lies with starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who hasn’t been in the identical form as he was last season. Nevertheless, the defense has also been a bit soft. One vibrant spot has been Tanev, who has a +5 rating in eight games, despite recording just two points.