Setback for Max Pacioretty Creates Huge Opportunity for Young Maple Leafs Forward
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Photo credit: Rick Osentoski - Imagn Images
Coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, Maple Leafs winger Max Pacioretty has been forced to the sidelines, creating an opportunity for one young forward.
The injury bug continues to plague the Toronto Maple Leafs as veteran forward Max Pacioretty has been ruled out for the weekend back-to-back set against Carolina and Chicago due to undisclosed reasons. We do know his absence is related to some tightness, but not much else.
Pacioretty missed practice on Wednesday after head coach Craig Berube mentioned that he tweaked something, and although he didn't think it was going to be a serious ailment, the veteran is set to miss at least the next 2 games.
In his absence, the Maple Leafs recalled forward Alex Steeves from the Toronto Marlies earlier in the week with Pacioretty's status in doubt.
Steeves has just 11 NHL games under his belt, including 4 games this season, but has been an AHL stalwart with 98 goals and 200 points in 228 games across 4 seasons with the Marlies. This season alone, he has 29 goals and 46 points in just 40 games and should give the bottom-6 an added boost this weekend.
As for Pacioretty, the Leafs haven't given any further detaila, but Berube remained confident in his initial assessment that it wasn't a serious issue.
"Yeah, didn't feel good enough, you know, with what happened the other day. So I think it's more that he needs to get relief. It's not so much of an injury, I don't believe. It's just he's got some tightness and things like that. So I think it's just, you know, he could come in tomorrow and feel a lot better. You know, he felt, I thought he said he felt better today, which was good. But just not capable of getting out there and practicing yet."
Nevertheless, the fact that he attempted to practice yesterday but was unable to and had to depart early, it doesn't necessarily bode well for his status beyond this weekend.
Pacioretty has already missed some time this year due to injuries with just 37 games played. He has 5 goals and 13 points, a minus-2 rating, 16 PIMs, and has averaged 13:30 TOI.
As for Steeves, look for him to be his placeholder until the veteran can return to the lineup. The 25-year-old will be on the hunt for his first career NHL tally tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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