Jim Hiller provides injury update after scary hit on Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Oliver Ekman-Larsson left the Maple Leafs game after a scary hit from Jeremy Lauzon, and Jim Hiller had no update on his status.
The Toronto Maple Leafs lost in a shootout in Vegas on Thursday, but the bigger worry might be what happened to Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
With less than two minutes left in regulation, Golden Knights defenceman Jeremy Lauzon ran the veteran into the boards and then drove him to the ice.
Ekman-Larsson fell hard and appeared to land on his head.
He stayed down for a moment, then skated off under his own power and went straight to the Leafs locker room.
He never returned and sat out overtime.
It was an ugly moment in a game that already had Toronto fans on edge.
The Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Vegas fought back and won 4-3 in the shootout.
Hiller has no update on Ekman-Larsson
After the game, head coach Jim Hiller did not give an update on the 35-year-old's status.
The Hockey News reported that Hiller thinks the defenceman is okay, but no specific injury was shared and nothing more came out of it.
Hiller also felt a penalty should have been called on Lauzon.
No whistle came, and Leafs fans have been loud about it ever since.
Ekman-Larsson finished with 15:22 of ice time and two hits.
He is still looking for his first point through five games this season.
What it means for the Leafs
If Ekman-Larsson has to miss time, Nick Blankenburg is the next man up on the blue line.
That would sting for a team trying to find its footing early in the season.
Toronto hits the road again Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.
Until Hiller says more, all eyes stay on the Leafs blue line, and fans will be watching warmups closely.
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