Toronto’s Max Pacioretty leaves Saturday's game after a cross-check from Mike Matheson leads to a concerning leg injury
In a troubling development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, forward Max Pacioretty exited Saturday’s match against the Montreal Canadiens due to a possibly severe leg injury.
Pacioretty fell late in the first period due to a cross-check by Montreal’s Mike Matheson. The 35-year-old Leafs veteran clutched his left thigh, having difficulty putting any pressure on his leg.
Teammates Ryan Reaves and John Tavares assisted him off the ice, and Pacioretty did not come back to the game following his injury. The Leafs PR stated that the team had declared him unavailable for the rest of the game but was unable to give any updates following the match. “Lower body,” affirmed Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube after the match.
This setback is somewhat discouraging for Pacioretty, who has battled through a seemingly never-ending list of injuries. Most notably, Pacioretty came back to compete after enduring consecutive tears of his Achilles tendon during the last two years.
The Leafs, however, managed to sign the ex-Capitals’ captain to a budget-friendly agreement, inking him to a one-year, $873,770 contract right after training camp.
Max Pacioretty has made a notable beginning to the season by featuring in 13 of Toronto’s 16 matches as of Saturday, netting 2 goals and delivering 4 assists.
Nonetheless, his long-standing injury record has consistently raised concerns, and this recent setback is validating skeptics, especially if it leads to Pacioretty being sidelined for an extended period.
For reference, Pacioretty has not participated in more than 48 games during any of the last four seasons, which includes a brief five-game stint with the Hurricanes in 2022-23.
Although Pacioretty was injured on Saturday, the Leafs achieved a 4-1 win against Montreal, as Mitch Marner and William Nylander continued their point streaks.
The victory signifies Toronto’s third straight win, all achieved without team captain Auston Matthews on the roster while he manages his rehabilitation.
The Leafs are in second place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 9-5-2 and 20 points, just behind the Florida Panthers (11-3-1, 23).
Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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