NHL: Maple Leafs put Jake Muzzin on IR, and Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon out vs Wings
The Daily Goal Horn
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The Toronto Maple Leafs put defenseman Jake Muzzin on injured reserve Wednesday with a concussion, two days since the blueliner was hospitalized after banging his head on the ice.
Muzzin suffered the injury in the third period of Monday’s road loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Muzzin’s head hit the ice after a collision with Montreal’s Chris Wideman. Muzzin spent the night in a hospital but was released Tuesday.
Jake Muzzin lands on IR
It’s Muzzin’s second concussion in less than a month. He missed seven games in January after slamming into the end boards during a game on Jan. 15.
Muzzin, who turned 33 on Monday, is a candidate to land on long term IR to free up cap space with the NHL’s trade deadline coming up March 21.
Muzzin has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 41 games this season.
A Stanley Cup winner with Los Angeles, Muzzin has 291 points (68 goals, 223 assists) and a plus-66 rating in 673 career games with the Kings and Maple Leafs. However, he has a team-worst minus-8 rating this season.
The Maple Leafs are third in the Atlantic Division and are in the midst of a three-game winless streak. Toronto next plays Thursday against the Minnesota Wild.
Nathan MacKinnon out against Red Wings
Colorado Avalanche star forward Nathan MacKinnon has been ruled out of Wednesday’s game against the host Detroit Red Wings because of a lower-body injury.
“He’s dealing with a minor issue that isn’t getting better, so we’re going to hold him out tonight,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday. “The idea is for him to be ready for Friday.”
Colorado (36-10-4, 76 points) hosts the Winnipeg Jets on Friday and visits the Vegas Golden Knights the following day.
MacKinnon, 26, has recorded 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in 36 games this season.
He has 608 points (222 goals, 386 assists) in 609 career games since the Avalanche selected him with the top overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media