It sounds like the Toronto Maple Leafs dodged an injury bullet over the weekend less than two weeks before the Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin.
In the first period of the Maple Leafs loss on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, defenseman Travis Dermott appeared to injure his left foot after blocking a shot. Dermott missed the rest of that game with what the Maple Leafs termed a lower-body injury.
On Monday, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock said the prognosis wasn't long-term, saying Dermott's x-rays and CT scan showed no breaks in that foot, and he " ... should be up and running" in a few days. Dermott will not be in the lineup Monday when the Maple Leafs play host to the Buffalo Sabres.
"(Dermott) is talking around, so give him a couple day," Babcock said.
Travis Dermott heads to the bench in what looks to be serious pain after blocking a shot in front of the Toronto net. Hopefully just a stinger, but doesn't look great. pic.twitter.com/hmaB1Z1XmM
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) March 31, 2018
Travis Dermott is limping to the locker room with help. Not putting any weight on his left foot it appears.#TMLTalk #NHL
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) March 31, 2018
The Maple Leafs have two regular season games remaining after Saturday, against the Devils Thursday, and against the Canadiens Saturday, their finale. A first-round playoff series would likely begin early next week, with the Maple Leafs currently locked into third place in the Atlantic Division, awaiting a matchup against either the Tampa Bay Lightning, or Boston Bruins.
It sounds like Dermott could appear in that finale against Montreal, after getting back on the ice during practice on Wednesday.
Babcock said Dermott will skate again on Thursday, with the Maple Leafs taking on the Devils that night, and could target the finale against the Canadiens as a tune-up before the postseason.
Travis Dermott is skating at practice. Good news.#tmltalk #NHL pic.twitter.com/86RSctn1ox
— Dave McCarthy (@DaveAMcCarthy) April 4, 2018
Dermott, in his rookie season, made his NHL debut in early January, and became a regular under Babcock later that month after bouncing between the Leafs and the AHL Marlies. Dermott has appeared in 36 games for Toronto this season, scoring a goal and adding 12 assists.