Jim Hiller says Jake McCabe was held out as a precaution after a high stick around the eye, and the Maple Leafs defenseman seems to be doing OK.
“I bumped into him, seems to be doing OK,” Hiller said.
Marshall Rifai admitted the moment was scary. “Looks like it wasn't as bad as we originally thought, you know, that was scary for a second,” he said.
Eye injuries are the ones that make an entire bench hold its breath. This one appears to have dodged the worst.
Toronto, meanwhile, rolled to a 6-2 win in Columbus on Tuesday, its second straight victory.
The 33-year-old has no points through 11 games, but he's dressed every night and the Leafs can't easily replace him right now.
A blue line this thin is like a Jenga tower in the late rounds. Pull one more piece, and nobody's sure what stays standing.
Marshall Rifai and a thin Toronto blue line catch a break
This is exactly why John Chayka can't sit on his hands. One more injury on that back end and Hiller is dressing whoever is left standing.
Chris Tanev is already on injured reserve. Toronto has allowed 35 goals and is hunting for a top-four defenseman.
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Rifai has made the most of his chance with a goal in two games, on an $850,000 cap hit.
Darren Raddysh and Morgan Rielly have carried big minutes, with Rielly up to seven assists.
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Raddysh logged 26:39 against San Jose on Monday, a sign of how heavy the load already is.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stecher have one point apiece.
McCabe hasn't missed a game this season, which makes any absence on that pair stand out.
His $4,513,102 cap hit is money Toronto needs on the ice Thursday, not in the press box.
The Leafs are 5-4-2 and host the Rangers on Thursday.
Clearance would bring a sigh of relief. Without it, the trade calls Chayka has been making just got a lot more urgent.
Should the Maple Leafs trade for a defenseman before Thursday's game against the Rangers?
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