Leafs D Muzzin hospitalized after hitting head

Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin was hospitalized Tuesday evening after taking an awkward fall and appearing to hit his head late in the Maple Leafs' 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team said he was then taken to the hospital. Muzzin, 31, was down for more than 10 minutes in a silent arena in Toronto, with medical personnel tending to him while teammates and opponents stood nearby.


Reuters | Updated: 05-08-2020 07:33 IST | Created: 05-08-2020 07:33 IST
Leafs D Muzzin hospitalized after hitting head

Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin was hospitalized Tuesday evening after taking an awkward fall and appearing to hit his head late in the Maple Leafs' 3-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. According to the Leafs, Muzzin was "alert and able to move all limbs" after being taken off the ice on a stretcher with 1:52 to play in the game. The team said he was then taken to the hospital.

Muzzin, 31, was down for more than 10 minutes in a silent arena in Toronto, with medical personnel tending to him while teammates and opponents stood nearby. He was conscious, talking to the trainers and moving his extremities. Players for both teams banged sticks and cheered in support as he was taken off. The collision happened as Muzzin was skating behind his own net. He was cross-checked in the back by Columbus' Pierre-Luc Dubois, then fell to his knees and slid sideways toward the boards. While hunched over against the boards, Muzzin lurched forward and away from the boards to avoid teammate Mitch Marner -- who was playing the puck in the corner -- and collided with the back of Blue Jackets winger Oliver Bjorkstrand's legs.

Muzzin's head appeared to hit the side of Bjorkstrand's left knee, and he then landed face down on the ice. No penalty was called on the play.

Muzzin played 17:06 before the injury, recording three hits and three blocked shots. In 53 regular-season games, he had six goals and 17 assists in his first full season with the Maple Leafs.

Acquired by Toronto via trade from Los Angeles in January 2019, Muzzin has 62 goals and 190 assists in 579 games across a 10-year career spent with the Kings (2010-19) and Leafs. --Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Give Feedback