Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe ruled out vs. Canadiens due to upper-body injury

The 32-year-old exited the ice after taking a puck to the face in the second period and will not return for the third. The severity of McCabe’s injury is currently unknown, with an update likely to come post-game.

In case you missed it, here’s a look at that play:

McCabe has three goals and seven assists in 21 games played with the Maple Leafs this season. He sits second on the team in TOI/game, averaging 21:41 a night, behind only Morgan Rielly’s 22:11. In The Leafs Nation’s 1st-quarter grades, McCabe received a C+:

McCabe is Toronto’s best point-of-attack defender, and he earns points here for his toughness, leadership, physicality and willingness to stick up for his teammates. He’s also been exposed off the rush more than a few times, and has committed some awful turnovers that have been immediately punished throughout November. He’s making an active effort to contribute offence as well, while emerging as the team’s top defencemen amid a wave of injuries. It’s a tough grade to assign.

The Wisconsin native’s exit comes as bad news for an already injury-plagued Maple Leafs roster. Toronto’s blue line is currently without veteran Chris Tanev, who has been out since the beginning of the month, and Brandon Carlo. Considering the key minutes he plays, losing McCabe would be a big hit for a team currently struggling defensively. Not to mention that on top of that, the team is currently without captain Auston Matthews, forwards Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy, and starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz.

Matthews and Stolarz are easily the two biggest losses for the team, but there’s no clear timeline on a return for either of them. Matthews, along with Knies, returned to the ice for the first time for practice Friday, while Stolarz has yet to skate. Amidst the slew of injuries, the team has dropped six of their last seven games, and currently trail the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 entering the third period.