Maple Leafs get major return ahead of Rangers game

As the Maple Leafs look to make it three wins in a row, they got some major reinforcements back as Jake McCabe returned to practice after a scary-looking injury.

Injuries have hit the Maple Leafs hard this year. Max Domi is out for the long-haul, Dakota Joshua is nowhere to be seen, both John Tavares and Chris Tanev could be out for a few weeks, and Jake McCabe just left Tuesday's game a bloody mess.

Things have been pretty rough for Toronto to start at least in terms of staying healthy, and we can hope that this early influx of ailments is going to cool off as the season goes on. Tanev and Tavares aren't close to returning yet, but at least the team is getting one big name back Thursday night.

Jake McCabe returns to practice after gruesome-looking injury on Tuesday

McCabe appeared at the Maple Leafs' morning practice after his scary looking injury and seemed to be good enough to practice, and is likely to find himself back in the lineup against New York:

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He was seen skating on the first pair alongside Darren Raddysh and it's a very positive sign that there was nothing more serious behind the injury.

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Though McCabe didn't come out completely unscathed as he was sporting a serious shiner at practice:

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Sometimes things do indeed look worse than they are, and McCabe avoided any orbital damage, simply getting sliced - which is still no fun whatsoever.

McCabe, 32, has zero points in 11 games this season, but has added 21 blocks and 15 hits so far this year, being that defensive lynchpin Toronto needs with Tanev out. His return will ease the load on others like Troy Stecher, who won't be asked to play 26 minutes on Thursday (we hope at least).

McCabe's return will try and cool the red-hot Rangers

Of all the stories early on this season, the most surprising of them all may be the Rangers and their start to the season. 7-3-1, sitting second in the Metropolitan, and finally getting the breakout season from Alexis Lafrenière - they are looking good.

They are also doing it without star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who is out for the rest of the season after awkwardly going down after making a save and eventually needing surgery.

McCabe's return is going to be critical in shutting down Lafrenière and the rest of the Rangers, but another story to keep an eye on is how Albert Smits is going to handle the Maple Leafs and first overall pick Gavin McKenna.

It's another tale of 2026 top picks going head to head, and with McKenna already besting Ivar Stenberg - Smits is next on the list. Both men have been stellar in their first seasons in the NHL, and it could be the start of a rivalry we see for years to come.

Thankfully there was nothing serious when it came to McCabe's injury because the team will need his staunch defensive prowess to make sure the Rangers don't run rampant over them.

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Maple Leafs send goalie to the AHL following surprise call-up