The Toronto Maple Leafs will play Monday night's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning without forward Max Pacioretty.
Pacioretty will be absent due to an upper-body injury that he sustained after taking a shot to the side of the head in Saturday's 7-3 comeback win against the Montreal Canadiens. He was however able to finish the game, logging 10:13 in ice time.
Read more: Leafs Predicted to Sign Big Name Center Before Trade Deadline
The team hasn't officially announced that he is out against the Lightning, though he didn't practice on Monday and head coach Craig Berube said he is day-to-day.
"He's out ... [no timeline yet], just day to day right now," Berube said.
Maple Leafs F Max Pacioretty will not skate this morning (upper body).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 20, 2025The Maple Leafs will slot center Fraser Minten in for Pacioretty, placing him on a line with Max Domi and Nicholas Robertson.
At 20 years old, Minten has been a healthy scratch for the past two games since being recalled from the team's AHL affiliate on Thursday. He has registered two goals and two assists in 11 games with Toronto this season.
Despite battling injuries earlier in the season, Pacioretty has generally been healthy since December.
At 36, the veteran winger has served his role fittingly as a valuable depth piece for the Maple Leafs after signing a one-year contract ahead of the 2024-25 season. He adds not only playoff experience, but the physicality that can spark energy in a game — something Maple Leafs are looking to have handy some springtime.
"I don't want to sound cocky," Pacioretty told the Athletic last month, "but I'm pretty good at it, in terms of momentum builders, times of the game when the team has a little bit of a lull. Not just bumping a guy to get a hit on the stat sheet, but maybe getting a good lick on someone and kinda waking the team a little bit."
More NHL: Rangers' Biggest Position Need Ahead of NHL Trade Deadline
Since joining Toronto, Pacioretty has tallied five goals and seven assists— all at even strength— while averaging just over 13 minutes of ice time per game.
With 680 points from 335 goals and 345 assists in 934 career games, including a 2020 All-Star appearance, he has played for the Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, and Maple Leafs.
Monday will mark the third meeting between Toronto and Tampa Bay this season. So far, the Maple Leafs have been in control, winning the first two matchups against the Lightning and outscoring them 10-5 overall.
More NHL:
Canucks' Rick Tocchet Seemingly Takes Shot at JT Miller Amid Trade Rumors
Canucks' JT Miller Responds to Trade Rumors, 'Whatever Happens, Happens'
For more on the NHL, head to Newsweek Sports.
English (US) ·