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The Toronto Maple Leafs got a joyous moment followed by a devastating injury situation that clouded the club’s victory.
The Toronto Maple Leafs got a much-needed 5-2 win on Saturday, downing the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.
The victory, however, was a combination of bittersweet moments. The game was filled with joy as Maple Leafs rookie Easton Cowan got his first NHL goal. With the game 3-1 in the third period, Cowan rifled a shot past Flyers goalie Dan Vladar.
Here’s a look at the tally:
Cowan took a sick feed from John Tavares to make the game 4-1 and chase Vladar from the game.
The game looked well in hand, with the Maple Leafs seemingly cruising to the victory. Cowan got a huge monkey off his back by getting on the board for the first time this season.
But then, disaster struck as the Maple Leafs sustained a devastating injury to defenseman Chris Tanev. Midway through the third, Tanev collided with Flyers forward Matvei Michkov near the Toronto blue line. The play looked harmless enough, but the Maple Leafs defenseman tumbled to the ice and lay motionless.
Here’s a look at the play:
Tanev, who was coming off concussion protocol, seemingly had his head whip back from the contact with Michkov. Tanev did not get up, necessitating a stretcher to carry him off the ice. Hopefully, the stretcher was nothing more than an abundance of caution on the part of the on-call medical staff.
Maple Leafs Targeted Michkov following Tanev Injury
The initial call on the ice following the play was a major penalty to Michkov. The officials huddled to discuss the situation. After Tanev was taken off the ice, the major penalty was changed to a minor penalty for interference.
However, the Flyers forward became a target for the rest of the game. The Maple Leafs harassed Michkov, with Max Domi being the most vocal. He got into Michkov’s face during one exchange at center ice.
Tempers flared as a brawl broke out when Maple Leafs blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson pounded Flyers forward Bobby Brink along the boards. Brink did the full splits as he hit the ice. The hit drew an instant reaction from the Flyers.
Everyone settled down after the exchange, but the issue is likely not going away until the Flyers and Leafs meet again.
Tanev Catches Another Tough Break
Chris Tanev left the Maple Leafs’ game against the New Jersey Devils on October 21 with a suspected concussion. Tanev missed a couple of games but was able to return on Saturday night.
He played 14:50 across 24 shifts, looking just fine. Unfortunately, the collision with Michkov seemingly snapped Tanev’s head back. Perhaps Tanev was merely knocked out on the play, with no lingering effects.
However, the 35-year-old blueliner will likely re-enter concussion protocol. The injury appears to be more to the neck. Given Tanev’s injury history, it’s doubtful the veteran blueliner will bounce back into the lineup as quickly as he did following the New Jersey game.
More information is likely to come in the following days as the Maple Leafs’ medical team evaluates Tanev. In the meantime, the Leafs face a considerable challenge by losing Tanev for the second time this season.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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