With the Maple Leafs set to begin 2018 against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a showdown of Atlantic Division rival, they'll be getting a little bit of help up front.
After missing the Leafs New Year's Eve game against the Vegas Golden Knights with an upper-body injury, forward Nazem Kadri told reporters on Tuesday he's good-to-go and healthy enough to play on Tuesday night when the Leafs will try to make up ground on Tampa Bay.
"It didn't quite feel 100 percent, but now I'm ready to go," Kadri said on Tuesday after the Maple Leafs morning skate.
Kadri was held out of the Maple Leafs final game of the calendar year with what he described as neck soreness, also saying he did not sustain a concussion when he took this high hit from the Arizona Coyotes Lawson Crouse last Thursday in the first period.
No penalty was called on the play, and Kadri left the game shortly after and did not return.
Slow mo and new angle on the Lawson Crouse hit on Nazem Kadri. This doesn't look good at all. He's not out for the second period; broadcast said that he didn't go through concussion protocol despite an elbow to the head. Crouse was not penalized. pic.twitter.com/iEJ5KfJ9Tt
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) December 29, 2017
The Leafs enter the new year attempting to hold off the rapidly rising Boston Bruins, who are tied for Toronto at 48 points, though the Bruins have played three fewer games. Both teams are looking up at the Lightning, who have accrued 58 points in their first 38 games, and are on pace to set the record for the most points by a team in the salary cap era.
"There's definitely no dipping your toes in the water today," Kadri said. "They're a great team, they have an exceptional first couple of lines and we have to be ready for their speed."
Kadri has 13 goals and 23 points in 38 games this season for Toronto.