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Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe Exits Game After Scary Head-First Fall After Fight

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Jan 6, 2025 5:07 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs extended their winning streak to four games with a 3–2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. The win, however, was marred by a concerning injury to defenseman Jake McCabe.

Late in the first period, McCabe engaged in a fight with Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway. The altercation stemmed from an earlier collision between Hathaway and Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby.

McCabe, defending his teammate, initiated the fight but quickly found himself on the losing end with the fight ending in a worrying way.

While none of the players involved in the scuffle landed heavy punches on one another, the on-ice bouth took a dangerous turn when McCabe lost his balance hit his head hard on the ice.

Jake McCabe went to the dressing room following a fight with Garnet Hathaway. pic.twitter.com/iKWQOvG5XE
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 6, 2025

Hathaway landed on top of McCabe as the fight ended, leaving McCabe visibly dazed. Attempting to get up, the 30-year-old defenseman stumbled and needed assistance from teammates and medical staff to leave the ice.

McCabe did not return to the game, with the team later describing his injury as “upper-body” and without offering any further update.

Coach Craig Berube expressed concern for the veteran defenseman.

“I didn’t like what I saw, I’ll tell you that,” Berube said after the game. “He’s sticking up for the team and his teammate. We all really appreciate that, but I didn’t like seeing that happen.”

The injury comes after McCabe missed five games earlier this season following a puck to the head, which makes this development a bit more worrying on Toronto's and the player's end.

Despite the setback, Morgan Rielly’s overtime goal secured the victory for the Leafs, who improved to 26–13-2 and remain atop the Atlantic Division, four points above the Florida Panthers.

Toronto and Philadelphia are set to meet again on Tuesday in what could be a hypercharged rematch with possible retaliation from the Maple Leafs side.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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