Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews returned to the game after leaving in the second period after taking a hit on what looked like a shoulder to the head from Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon on Friday.
He was immediately taken to the locker room, likely to get checked for a concussion.
Matthews shaken up by this hit from Dillon. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/QSkKETTXkh
— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) October 26, 2019
He stayed out for the remainder of the second period but emerged with the team to start the third.
If last year's playoffs were any indication, this could very well mean a suspension for Dillon as the contact to the head was seemingly avoidable.
Toronto coach Mike Babcock would not give a comment on whether the hit deserved any punishment after the game.
"Yeah, I mean, one thing with that is we've got lots of people in league to evaluate it, so I don't need an opinion," he said.
Dillon did tell Sportsnet he apologized to Matthews for the hit after the game.
Brenden Dillon says he apologized to Auston Matthews. Glad to see him return in the third period.
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) October 26, 2019
Matthews, 22, was the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft.
He is off to a great start again this season with eight goals and three assists in 11 games.
He trails only Boston's David Pastrnak, Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Edmonton's James Neal in goals this season.