Adversity Hit The Toronto Maple Leafs Early In Game 1
from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,
With his eyes clearly glassy, John Tavares attempted to get up and almost collapsed backwards into the arms of the Maple Leafs training staff.
The hockey building, already silent without fans, was suddenly even more silent. Quiet and afraid.
There were nine minutes and 31 seconds remaining in the first period of the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Leafs when the captain was hit by Ben Chiarot, fell somewhat awkwardly, and then his head somehow collided violently and accidentally with the knee of Corey Perry.
It was the kind of frightening sporting moment that no one ever wants to witness. The kind of play that turns the stomach of those watching from home on television and those playing the game at precisely the same time....
“He’s conscious and communicating well,” coach Sheldon Keefe said after the 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. “The tests that he’s had came back clear.”
“We all believe in each other and we’ll be ready to go next game.”
Tavares was expected to remain in hospital overnight and probably through Friday. There are more tests to be done.
“In terms of losing John, that’s a big loss for us,” said Keefe. “But we have a lot of depth. It’s a big loss, it’s our captain. Good teams overcome these kind of things.”
In an odd night of hockey, with an injury and an incident becoming the unfortunate story, the Leafs lost Game 1 for a variety of reasons. They only scored one goal. Too often, they were beaten by the speed of the Canadiens. Montreal chose to bench kids in favour of veterans, the Leafs chose to play rookie Rasmus Sandin. Sandin was victimized on both Montreal goals.
read on
Below, watch Corey Perry post-game on his collisiion with Tavares.
added 10:18am, below, Nick Foligno talks after the game....
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