The Toronto Maple Leafs will meet the Montreal Canadiens in the decisive Game 7 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoffs series Monday night without captain John Tavares and defenseman Jake Muzzin.
Coach Sheldon Keefe said Monday that while Tavares took part in an optional morning skate, he isn’t ready to return from the concussion and knee injury he sustained in Game 1 of the series. And a lower-body injury that Muzzin suffered in the second period of Game 6 on Saturday will keep him off the ice as well.
In fact, should the Maple Leafs advance to face the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, Muzzin will miss the series. Keefe said Muzzin will be sidelined at least three weeks.
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Muzzin, 32, is a veteran of 65 playoff games, including six this season. He tallied two goals and one assist in the series against the Canadiens. In 53 regular-season games, he scored 27 points (four goals, 23 assists).
Tavares, 30, was playing in his 37th career playoff game and his 13th since signing a free-agent contract with Toronto prior to the 2018-19 season when he was injured. He recorded 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) over 56 games during the regular season.
Game 7 will be played in Toronto. The Maple Leafs had a 3-1 series lead, but the Canadiens won the next two to knot the series at 3-3.
–Field Level Media