Zaitsev’s Game 1 absence throws Maple Leafs’ defence in uncertainty
TORONTO — The Maple Leafs won’t have their biggest minute-eater from the regular season available to play Game 1 against the Washington Capitals, and Toronto head coach Mike Babcock is still trying to figure out what to do about it.
Babcock said Nikita Zaitsev, who logged 22 minutes per-game as a rookie this season, would be out for Thursday’s opener against the Capitals and perhaps longer. The 25-year-old was shaken up in the Leafs regular season finale Sunday night after a loud hit from Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno.
Toronto said he suffered an upper-body injury on the play, declining to say if he suffered a concussion.
“The great thing about this medical department is I don’t deal with that part,” Babcock said. “They just tell me he’s not available to go. He’s got an upper-body injury.”