Maple Leafs defenseman to miss game vs. Kraken with injury

On Wednesday, head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters that defenseman Mark Giordano will miss the team’s Thursday night clash with the Seattle Kraken due to a hand injury.

The injury occurred during the Leafs’ 2-1 shootout win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Giordano blocked a shot with his hand in the first period, with the Panthers’ Kevin Stenlund scoring just moments later.

At first, the 40-year-old looked to be okay but left in discomfort during the next media timeout and did not return.

Keefe mentioned at practice that the team does not know the extent of Giordano’s injury and is waiting for further tests to determine how long he will be out of the lineup.

It piles on to the injury woes for Toronto’s d-core, which includes Timothy Liljegren and John Klingberg on LTIR. Despite not knowing how badly Giordano is hurt, expect to see William Lagesson and Connor Timmins get bigger roles over the next few games, especially on the penalty kill.

The hole Giordano left in Tuesday night’s game was noticeable, as Morgan Reilly played 30:30, the third-highest single-game total in his NHL career.

Giordano has been injured multiple times throughout his career, including suffering a torn biceps tendon as a member of the Calgary Flames.

The former Norris Trophy winner is in the last year of his two-year contract in Toronto, with a team-friendly $800,000 cap hit.

The Leafs are currently tied for third in the Atlantic Division with the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning, all six points back of the first-place Boston Bruins.

After taking on the Kraken, Toronto has some tough matchups on the horizon, including hosting the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.