Latter departed with upper-body issue during Saturday’s win in Colorado
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Marshall Rifai’s chance to break in with the Maple Leafs, denied by injury the past season, could come with Chris Tanev now on the shelf.
Rifai was called up Monday after Tanev was moved to injured reserve following an upper-body issue during Saturday’s win in Colorado. Tanev did not finish the 6-3 final amid fear he’d re-aggravated the core muscle problem that required major surgery at the end of last season, on top of a concussion and general wear and tear.
How much will Tanev be missed?
Tanev, who had gone right back to his physical, shot-blocking specialties in the season’s first six games, took a routine hit from Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen and went to the bench in pain. He’ll miss at least the next three games after collecting one assist and blocking 14 shots to rank 12th in the NHL.
“He’s a heart-and-soul guy,” Toronto captain Auston Matthews told media in Denver. “He plays a big role in our back end, a shutdown guy, so you’re hoping it’s nothing serious and that he’ll be alright. But we’ll see.”
The Leafs had fortuitously dressed seven defencemen on Saturday, so not only did extra Nick Blankenburg come in handy in his Leafs debut, he scored the opening goal.
Where has Rifai been playing?
Rifai suffered a wrist injury that required surgery in a Leafs pre-season game a year ago on the cusp of making the team as a reserve defender. He got back for one NHL game at the end of the season, but became a huge part of the farm team’s Calder Cup championship.
After three games with the Marlies this year, he was held out of Sunday’s game against Hamilton after the Tanev mishap in Colorado. Rifai was to join the practice in Utah on Monday afternoon, the club also announcing defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson would not participate, given a maintenance day.
John Tavares has rejoined the team after returning to Toronto for the birth of his fourth child. Winger Miles Wood, called up at the same time Tavares went home, also practiced Monday.
The Leafs play the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, trying to make it five of a possible six points on their Southwestern U.S. road trip.
X: @sunhornby
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