NHL
Maple Leafs Place Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai on Injured Reserve
Blankenburg and Rifai join injured reserve; Toronto recalls McWard and Mermis.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed defensemen Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai on injured reserve, with both considered week to week, according to the NHL’s updated injury report.
Blankenburg has an upper-body injury after leaving Thursday’s 5-4 win over the New York Rangers following a hit by Will Cuylle. Rifai’s lower-body injury forced him out of the morning skate before that game.
Toronto recalled defensemen Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on Friday. The league’s report did not give either injured player a specific return date.
The injuries add to a defense already missing Chris Tanev, who is also week to week with an upper-body injury. Center John Tavares remains week to week with a lower-body injury and will not travel on Toronto’s four-game road trip, the NHL reported.
That trip opens Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, with a scheduled start of 5 p.m. MDT. The recalls add available defensemen to the roster without establishing Toronto’s final pairings or lineup for the game.
