It was a scary scene at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday afternoon as Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin was stretchered off late in the third period. Thankfully, Muzzin was released from the hospital Wednesday and is back at the team's hotel. He will be out for the remainder of the team's series against the Blue Jackets because of the injury.
With Toronto on the penalty kill, the Blue Jackets' Pierre-Luc Dubois cross-checked Muzzin from behind when he was about to go around the back of his own net.
Muzzin went down on one knee along the boards as he played the puck and, as he tried to get up, appeared to hit a rut with the front of his skate and fell awkwardly into the leg of Columbus' Oliver Bjorkstrand.
The veteran's head and neck seemed to be impacted in the collision, resulting in the stretcher coming out; he was seen opening and closing his hands and moving his legs after the incident and head coach Sheldon Keefe said he was "responsive" at the hospital.
#LeafsForever Jake Muzzin hurt here pic.twitter.com/o8isPdgCxp
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@TheReplayGuy) August 4, 2020
"Seeing a guy like Jake, that everyone cares about, he's very well-loved in the locker room," said netminder Frederik Andersen. "Being as tough as [he is], it's really hard to see him being told to lay down and not move. ... We're just thinking about him and making sure that all the right steps are being taken and hopefully recover soon."
"He does a big part for this team: penalty kill, even strength against the best players, against the other team," added Mitch Marner, who was on the ice when Muzzin got hurt. "He really does mean a lot to us so, you know, kind of being beside him there when he did go down, stay down, obviously, it's a little worrisome."
Without fans in attendance, it was incredibly quiet inside the arena as both teams looked on with concern. As Muzzin was stretchered off, both teams tapped their sticks.
"Seeing one of your teammates go down, especially a guy like Muzz, you know the type of warrior he is. I think what he brings to our team is unmeasurable," said captain John Tavares. "Obviously, very tough. All signs were very positive being around him and nice to close it out for him but certainly tough to see, especially just how much we love that guy."
The injury came with just under two minutes left in the Maple Leafs' 3-0 win over Columbus, evening the qualifying round series at 1. Game 3 is Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
In practice on Wednesday, Travis Dermott shifted up to play with Muzzin's defensive partner Justin Holl. Martin Marincin slotted in with Tyson Barrie on the team's third pairing.
Because he left the bubble to go to the hospital, Muzzin is quarantining and, per Leafs PR, will "remain in quarantine within the hotel and look to rejoin his teammates upon recovery."