Maple Leafs defenseman Marshall Rifai is week to week with a lower-body injury, just days after scoring his first career NHL goal.
Leafslatest relayed the update, calling it a tough one given the timing.
Rifai scored in the final minutes of Toronto's 6-2 win in Columbus on Tuesday.
Brutal timing. The one Leafs defenseman who finally found the net now can't get back on the ice.
It's like finally landing the promotion and twisting your ankle on the walk to the new office.
The 28-year-old has dressed twice this season on an $850,000 cap hit.
He was recalled from the Marlies earlier this month when Chris Tanev went on injured reserve.
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Rifai scored the Leafs' first goal from a defenseman this season
No other Toronto defenseman has scored a goal yet this season.
Morgan Rielly has 7 assists, while Darren Raddysh has 5.
Rielly sits at -4, and three of Raddysh's assists have come on the power play.
Tanev is still out until at least Oct 31 with an upper-body injury.
Jake McCabe has stayed in the lineup after taking a high stick from Kent Johnson in that same game, though he's still looking for his first point.
Troy Stecher and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have 1 assist apiece.
The Leafs have allowed 35 goals in 11 games, and Jim Hiller is now down another body on a blue line that was already stretched thin.
Toronto has been linked to Zach Whitecloud, Simon Edvinsson and Alexander Nikishin as it looks for blue-line help.
Elliotte Friedman said the Leafs would only move prime assets for a difference maker on the back end.
The Leafs came into tonight's game against the Rangers riding a two-game winning streak at 5-4-2.
They visit Edmonton on Saturday and Calgary on Monday, with Auston Matthews leading the team at 18 points.
Does this injury finally push Toronto to make a move on defense?
Rifai gave the Leafs a feel-good moment on Tuesday. Two days later, he gave them one more reason to call around for help.
Should the Maple Leafs trade for a defenseman after Marshall Rifai's injury?
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