Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe exited Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with an injury and did not return, the team confirmed.
McCabe left the game midway through the first period after he was high-sticked by Blue Kent Johnson. Johnson’s stick made contact with the left-side of McCabe’s face and around the eye area.
The 33-year-old defenceman lay on the ice for significant length of time before going to the bench with the assistance of the Maple Leafs’ medical staff.
Johnson received a double-minor for high-sticking for the play with the game tied 1-1 but the Maple Leafs failed to score on the power-play. Toronto would go on to beat the Blue Jackets 6-2.
Following the game, Leafs head coach Jim Hiller told the media McCabe was left out as a precaution.
“I bumped into him, seems to be doing OK,” said Hiller.
McCabe’s injury adds pressure to an already weakened Maple Leafs blueline that is already missing Chris Tanev. Tanev is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
The 6-foot-1, left-shot blueliner has yet to record a point this season with the Maple Leafs and has a minus-1 rating while averaging 20:10 of icetime this season.
Toronto sits fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 5-4-2 record. They host the New York Rangers on Thursday and then go on a four-game Western road trip where they take on the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks.