Toronto Maple Leafs hit with double injury blow as two key players face different recovery timelines
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Colton Sissons is out week-to-week, Morgan Rielly is day-to-day and Kirill Marchenko remains sidelined as the Maple Leafs deal with another round of injuries.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another name to an already crowded injury list.
Colton Sissons is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, a notable blow for a team that has barely had its full lineup together this season.
Sissons left Sunday's 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils and never returned, and the club has now put a timeline on it.
A week-to-week tag generally points to more than a few missed games, so Toronto will need to find help down the middle.
Jack Roslovic is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury, which leaves the center position thinner than the Leafs would like.
Rielly Day-to-Day, Marchenko Still Out
The brighter news is on the blue line.
Morgan Rielly is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury after leaving Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens and sitting out the Devils game, so thankfully it isn't worse.
The team also gave an update on Kirill Marchenko, who remains week-to-week.
Marchenko has been out since getting hurt in an awkward collision against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 26, and the Leafs have struggled in his absence.
Toronto is 1-4-0 without him after going 7-5-2 when he plays.
What It Means for Toronto
The timing is awkward. Toronto sits at 8-9-2, has lost three straight and hosts the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, with Minnesota and Edmonton still to come on this homestand.
Rielly has 12 assists in 18 games, so even a short absence is felt on the back end.
Expect the Leafs to lean on Marlies call-ups at forward while the day-to-day players get sorted out.
If Rielly's tag holds, the defense can survive the stretch.
A long Sissons absence is the bigger lineup puzzle.
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