Jim Hiller calls Morgan Rielly injury a big blow when delivering an update

Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller called Morgan Rielly's lower-body injury "a big blow" moments ago, according to Mark Masters.

The defenseman left tonight's game against the Canadiens and never came back, and Leafs PR said it was a lower-body issue. Montreal went on to win 4-2, but the result is a side note to what happened on the Toronto blue line.

Hiller had no update after the game. Masters reported that the coach said they would know more tomorrow.

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Hiller didn't hide his concern. He said it was "never a good sign" that Rielly didn't finish, and he added that "hopefully it's not too long."

That is a coach bracing for an absence without being able to put a number on it. No diagnosis, no timeline.

The timing stings. Just Morgan Rielly rebuilding his game quietly two days ago was the storyline around this team, with the veteran settling in after a shaky stretch.

He has 12 assists through 17 games this season, with no goals, so the production has come as a passer.

What Rielly's absence could mean for Toronto

The Leafs were 8-7-2 coming into tonight, and the sheet puts that record before this loss. A team sitting in that spot can't easily absorb losing a defenseman who has been driving its offense from the back end. That is the real cost here, and it's a bad time for it.

Hiller will have to reshuffle his pairs, and the power play will feel it too, since Rielly has one power-play assist this season. His 8 penalty minutes show he has stayed out of the box while logging heavy minutes.

Earlier tonight we noted that Toronto's in-game injury news and unanswered question would hang over this one. The question is still open.

The Leafs host the Devils on Sunday, and Hiller says more information is coming then. Until it does, nobody outside the organization knows how long Rielly will be out, or whether he'll play at all.

Quick hits

CAROLINA HURRICANES: Nine goals, and a Blackhawks team that never stood a chance. The Hurricanes routed Chicago 9-2 at Lenovo Center and tied their record for goals in a game since relocation.

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OTTAWA SENATORS: Tim Stutzle moved into the top five for assists in franchise history, the Senators announced tonight. Not bad for a player still in his prime.

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COLORADO AVALANCHE: A massive fight broke out at Ball Arena with the Red Wings in town, and Nazem Kadri went off for roughing. Expect this one to get chippy the rest of the way.

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NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Jack Hughes did it again, winning it in overtime as the Devils beat the Islanders 5-4 after trailing 4-2 at one point. That's a comeback with a signature finish.

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NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Matthew Schaefer is fuming after Luke Hughes took him down, and the Islanders lost 5-4 in overtime at UBS Arena. That one will be talked about.

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Luke Hughes and Matthew Schaefer exchange blows in what could be the first overall picks first fight