What Happened
John Tavares left Toronto's Thursday game against Buffalo early in the third period after an accidental collision with Sabres forward Josh Norris. Norris made contact with Tavares' lower body when he was not expecting it, and Tavares fell to the ice in visible pain. A trainer came out and assisted him to the dressing room. No update on his condition was provided.
Key Details
- Tavares departed in the third period of Thursday's game against Buffalo.
- The collision with Josh Norris was accidental and involved Tavares' lower body.
- Tavares remained on the ice in obvious pain before a trainer helped him off.
- He had two goals and three assists in six games entering Thursday.
- Tavares missed a game earlier this week for the birth of his son.
- The 36-year-old has missed 14 games over the past five seasons.
What It Means
Tavares has been a durable fixture for Toronto, missing only 14 games across the past five seasons and appearing in all 82 last year, so any absence would be unusual for him. He entered Thursday among the team's early contributors with five points in six games. The severity of the lower-body issue is not yet known, leaving Toronto's centre depth uncertain depending on how long he is sidelined.
What's Next
The Maple Leafs have not announced a diagnosis or timeline for Tavares, so his status for upcoming games is unclear pending further evaluation.