The Maple Leafs are slowly on the mend.
Jake Muzzin began his rehab conditioning stint with the AHL Toronto Marlies Friday night in Cleveland, almost a month after the front of his foot was broken by a shot in a game in New Jersey.
Muzzin was partnered with Timothy Liljegren in the 5-2 loss to the Monsters, the first of back-to-back weekend games to sharpen the veteran defenceman for a return to NHL action. Muzzin wasn’t held back, used on a regular shift, going out to try and kill the first three Cleveland power plays and be part of Toronto’s man advantages.
“It was nice to get into a game, get some touches and the game feel back,” Muzzin told Todd Crocker of Leafs Nation Network. “The injury felt fine. It’s timing, lungs and legs. It’s definitely a lot more fun than just skating by yourself. It’s high level hockey here.”
It was Muzzin’s first minor league action since January of 2013 with the Manchester Monarchs, farm team of the Los Angeles Kings, and he got in some valuable skating, sharp passing and a couple of power play bombs from the point.
Morgan Rielly (fractured foot) and Ilya Mikheyev (wrist surgery) are still out long term. The Leafs are on the NHL all-star break, but will re-group Sunday afternoon in Nashville ahead of a game there Monday and Wednesday in Dallas. Expected back against the Predators is leading scorer Auston Matthews, who was sat out of all-star weekend on-ice events on St. Louis with a wrist condition.
He took treatment earlier in the week on Scottsdale, Ariz. and during his time in St. Louis.
“My first priority is the Maple Leafs and my goal is to play on Monday,” Matthews said on Sportsnet after the skills competition.
Mitch Marner and Frederik Andersen did take part in Friday’s skills’ night, Andersen making seven straight saves during a shootout contest to briefly lead the event before hometown hero Jordan Binnington stole the show.
Debuting a mask with images of teammates Marner and Matthews and a pair of Bauer pads with the CN Tower featured, Andersen hasn’t had to be reminded that his recent drop in play (4-3-3 and a .869 save percentage) must be reversed in a hurry.
“Teams are opening their eyes a little bit more,” Andersen said of the tightening conference standings that saw Toronto lose its playoff position heading into the break. “That means we have to play our best.”
The Marlies post-Christmas Day record fell to 3-11 with many of their players spending time with the Leafs. Forward Trevor Moore, with points in both his games since his own conditioning stint began last week, scored for the Marlies with Jeremy Bracco adding a late power play goal. Assistant coach Rob Davison, who suffered a seizure before a game in Cedar Park, Texas, two weeks ago, is still not with the club, but could return after the coming AHL all-star break.
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