The Toronto Maple Leafs are taking on the Arizona Coyotes tonight in the hopes of starting another winning streak. Already without Timothy Liljegren and playing with six left handed defensemen, the Leafs lost another blueliner early in the first period.
Mark Giordano, who is playing in just his second game since the passing of his father, joined a rush early in the first period. After stretching to get a shot on goal, Giordano could not brace himself in time before he crashed heavily into the end boards, colliding into the wall at high speed, head, neck and back-first.
Giordano attempted to get up before play was stopped. He was then helped to his feet and off the ice by a pair of teammates. The loss of Giordano means the Leafs will now be down to five defensemen for the remainder of the game if he does not return - and it doesn't appear as though he will, given the nature of the collision and the type of distress he was in afterwards.
