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Leafs lose yet another defenseman to injury in win over Florida

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Ryan Smitheram
November 29, 2023 (9:00)

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The Maple Leafs are already without defensemen Timothy Liljegren and John Klingberg and, following their dramatic 2-1 win over Florida, they will now be without the services of veteran Mark Giordano as well.

Giordano was injured with just under five minutes to go in the first period of last night's shootout victory over the Panthers. The injury appeared to happen when he blocked a shot before Panthers forward Kevin Stenlund scored off of the rebound of that blocked shot. Following the play, Giordano was spotted by the Leafs' bench with his glove off, examining the damage of what appeared to be a shot block with his hand.

Giordano's removal from the game forced the Leafs to play with five defensemen the rest of the game and saw Morgan Rielly play almost half of the game (30:30 TOI). Prior to his injury, Giordano had played 6:31 of the first period. The 40-year-old Giordano has averaged 18:28 ice time through 19 games this season. He began the year on the team's third pairing, but due to injuries to Klingberg, McCabe and Liljegren, he has been elevated to a top-four role at times.

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Following the game, Sheldon Keefe admitted he did not have the final report on Giordano but did say, "it looks like he is going to miss time." Keefe also touched on the Leafs' blueline and how they are running out of depth.

"We are getting thin. We were just talking about it. We are thin, and we had some guys who played big minutes today. We are thinking we might be shorthanded for practice tomorrow just giving some guys time away. It is a busy week for us in terms of every other day. We asked a lot of those guys today. They stood in there."

Keefe's comments regarding the lack of depth on the blueline currently was something that GM Brad Treliving had touched on earlier in the week when he met with reporters and it was something he acknowledged he was looking to add to.

"It was an area that we wanted to see if we could strengthen regardless. Now, when you have injuries, it tests your depth. You have people probably playing higher and more minutes than you want, and they're hanging in there, but it's certainly an area we'd like to look at and see if there's a way to help ourselves."

With the injury to Giordano, it would not be surprising if Treliving stepped up his efforts to add a defenseman and help shelter the minutes of William Lagesson, Simon Benoit and Conor Timmins as he still looks to get back into game shape.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Controversial no-goal call helps Leafs escape with two points

Max Domi drops gloves with Sam Bennett, mocks him afterward

Leafs star struck in face by a point shot and immediately heads down the tunnel

POLL
29 NOVEMBRE \| 490 ANSWERS Leafs lose yet another defenseman to injury in win over Florida Will Brad Treliving trade for a defenseman in the next week or two with Giordano's injury?
Yes, should have happened already	364	74.3 %
No, teams know he's desperate and raise the price	126	25.7 %
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