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Rick Zamperin: Jake Muzzin injury overshadows Maple Leafs’ Game 2 win

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin (8) leaves the ice on a stretcher while playing against the Columbus Blue Jackets during third period NHL Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoff action in Toronto on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The Toronto Maple Leafs evened their NHL playoff qualifying series against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday afternoon, but it turned out to be a muted celebration for the team after veteran defenceman Jake Muzzin left the game on a stretcher.

Toronto’s impressive 3-0 win, which tied the best-of-5 series at 1-1, was marred by a frightening check with less than two minutes to play in the game that left Muzzin on the ice.

The 31-year-old Woodstock, Ont. native was cross-checked behind the net by Columbus centre Pierre-Luc Dubois and landed awkwardly, head first, into the back of Blue Jackets winger Oliver Bjorkstrand’s leg.

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Muzzin remained on the ice for several minutes as Toronto’s trainers and doctors assessed him before he was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

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The team said “he was alert and able to move all limbs.”

Given the nature of the injury, and the league’s Phase 4 protocol around leaving the bubble — which allows players to leave the secure zone ‘for medical reasons’ but must quarantine in their hotel room until receiving four consecutive negative test results over a four-day period — Muzzin could be out for the rest of the series.

It’s a big loss for Toronto because Muzzin is, unquestionably, the team’s top shutdown defenceman who also plays a big part on the Leafs’ penalty killing unit and brings championship experience to a relatively young team.

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How the Maple Leafs respond in Game 3 of the series on Thursday night will be interesting to see.

Will they seek a measure of revenge against Dubois and run the risk of getting burned by Columbus’ power play, or will Toronto try to get back at the Blue Jackets on the scoreboard — where it hurts the most?

The tack the Leafs should employ is win the series and hopefully welcome Muzzin back to the lineup in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Rick Zamperin is the assistant program, news and senior sports director at Global News Radio 900 CHML.

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