Leafs’ Marchenko exits game vs. Flames with lower-body injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed Monday evening that winger Kirill Marchenko sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Marchenko, 26, fell awkwardly into the boards in the Leafs’ attacking zone after being hit by Flames forward Yegor Sharangovich. The 6’3″ right wing left the ice in clear discomfort and quickly went down the tunnel towards the Leafs’ dressing room.

Off goals by Matvei Gridin and Mikael Backlund, the Flames led the Leafs by a 3-0 score at the time of Marchenko’s injury. Marchenko logged 7:05 of ice time over eight shifts before exiting Monday’s game.

Acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in late September, Marchenko entered Monday’s action with six goals and 14 points in his first 13 games with the Leafs. The Barnaul, Russia product has been a fixture on Toronto’s No. 1 power-play unit, as well as on a line with William Nylander during 5-on-5 play.

The Blue Jackets originally selected Marchenko in the second round (No. 49 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. After emerging as a top KHL player with SKA St. Petersburg, Marchenko came to North America with the Blue Jackets organization in 2022. But on the eve of what would’ve been his fifth season in Columbus, Marchenko was traded to the Leafs alongside Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins in exchange for a package headlined by Matthew Knies.

In 306 career NHL games to date over parts of five seasons with Columbus and Toronto, Marchenko has collected 108 goals and 222 points. He has yet to make his Stanley Cup Playoff debut.

The Leafs entered Monday’s action with wins in four consecutive games. They fell behind 3-0 to the Flames by the opening minute of the second period but, without Marchenko, fought back to within one goal midway through the third period at the Saddledome.