With Chris Tanev already out of the lineup, the Toronto Maple Leafs are facing another scare involving recently signed defenseman Nick Blankenburg.
Nick Blankenburg is back in the Toronto Maple Leafs' locker room after taking a huge hit along the boards from none other than Will Cuylle of the New York Rangers.
This hit took place in the third period of a game where the Toronto Maple Leafs currently hold a 4-3 lead. They look to secure their first three-game winning streak of the season so far.
At this time, Blankenburg's condition is unknown. However, there is no denying that an injury here would be devastating to the roster.
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As mentioned before, Chris Tanev is currently out for the Toronto Maple Leafs as well, which is why Blankenburg was put into the lineup in the first place.
Now, Blankenburg is down, and there is a fear that he could very well miss some time as well. However, it is important to remember that his status is not yet known.
Typically, the head coach is asked about this sort of thing after the game, and we imagine that Jim Hiller will have some kind of answer.
Who's next for the Maple Leafs?
Well, the Leafs currently have Marshall Rifai as a call-up, which means they have at least one other player they can deploy if Blankenburg misses time.
Furthermore, this could also provide an opportunity for Ben Danford, who remains someone the Leafs want to at least give an opportunity to sometime in the near future.
That said, the focus should be on Blankenburg and his status. You hate to see a guy leave a game with an injury after a big hit like that.
This is a developing story, and we will be sure to keep you updated.
Do you believe Nick Blankenburg is going to be out for a long time?
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