The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough night on Wednesday, suffering a heavy 6-3 defeat at Nationwide Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets. While the scoreline reflects a significant loss, it doesn’t fully capture how one-sided the game truly was. The Leafs found themselves down 6-1 late in the third period before scoring two late goals, which made the final score appear somewhat closer than the actual gameplay.
### Injury Concerns Mount for the Maple Leafs
Beyond the sting of the loss, Toronto also had to contend with the loss of another player to injury. Steven Lorentz, a veteran forward, left the game with an upper-body injury after a frightening head-first collision into the boards late in the second period. Although Lorentz was able to get up and skate to the bench on his own, his frustration was clear as the officials did not immediately stop play for the injury. The game continued, and the Blue Jackets capitalized, scoring to extend their lead to 5-1 during that sequence.
Following the hit, Lorentz sat on the bench for several minutes while communicating with the training staff before being escorted down the tunnel and into the dressing room. Given the nature of the injury, Lorentz likely entered concussion protocol. This would place him alongside teammate Chris Tanev, who is also currently on concussion watch after sustaining an upper-body injury. Fortunately, Tanev’s injury turned out to be less serious.
It’s worth noting that this is the second time Lorentz has suffered an upper-body injury this season. He previously missed several games before returning to action. So far this season, the 29-year-old has contributed four assists in eight games.
### Multiple Key Injuries Affecting the Maple Leafs’ Forward Line
In addition to Lorentz, the Maple Leafs are also dealing with the absence of veteran forward Calle Jarnkrok. The 34-year-old did not dress for Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames, nor did he participate on Wednesday night in Columbus, as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury. Currently, there is no confirmed timeline for Jarnkrok’s return.
Jarnkrok’s injury woes are particularly concerning given his recent history. He missed nearly the entire previous season following sports hernia surgery and only returned late in the campaign. Despite participating in the playoffs, he was unable to make a significant impact. Moreover, Jarnkrok is in the final year of his contract with Toronto and had been linked to trade rumors throughout the summer. This latest injury setback could effectively remove him from trade discussions for the foreseeable future.
### Sammy Blais Brings Some Positivity
Amid the challenging circumstances, there was a silver lining for Toronto fans: the return of Sammy Blais to the lineup. Blais was a late training camp waiver pick-up by the Maple Leafs after being cut by the Montreal Canadiens. The 29-year-old forward was initially a candidate to make Montreal’s roster, but after being waived, Toronto claimed him.
Blais played his first NHL game since April 17, 2024, when he was with the St. Louis Blues. Despite the team’s loss, he managed to contribute a goal and an assist, showcasing his potential value to the Leafs.
With the team’s forward group facing multiple injuries, fans may get to see more of Blais as Toronto continues to navigate this difficult stretch.
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The Maple Leafs will be hoping for a quick recovery for their injured players as they look to bounce back in their upcoming games.
https://heavy.com/sports/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/maple-leafs-injuries-lorentz/