Tavares is expected to miss at least the first four games of the regular season with an oblique strain he suffered in training camp. With Tavares sidelined, Alex Kerfoot will likely centre the Maple Leafs' second line, and Pontus Holmberg could open the season with the team.
The Maple Leafs are locked into second place in the Atlantic Division, so there's nothing for them to play for tonight. In addition to Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will also sit out.
Tavares was held out of Sunday's game for maintenance reasons but is expected to be back in the top-6 and top power-play unit on Tuesday. Tavares has picked up 17 points (6G / 11A) in his last 16 games.
This is the first time the Maple Leafs have been impacted by COVID-19 with Tavares and Alexander Kerfoot landing in protocol. Tavares will likely miss at least 10 days.
Tavares missed Wednesday's game in Philadelphia but was on the ice for Friday's morning skate and is expected to play vs. Calgary. Tavares is riding a six-game point streak, scoring six goals with four assists (10 points) over that span.
Tavares skated for about 20 minutes on Thursday morning but the Maple Leafs provided no real update on his status. While it is certainly encouraging that Tavares is already back on the ice, there is still no timetable for his return. Having their captain back in the building should at least provide the Maple Leafs with a morale boost heading into Game 5.
Tavares will miss at least two weeks with the knee injury but the concussion is a little more uncertain. All in all, this is great news for Tavares who was stretchered off following a scary collision in Game 1. Look for Alex Galchenyuk to draw in and replace Tavares in Game 2.
Tavares had to be stretchered off of the ice after taking an incidental Corey Perry knee to the head. It was a scary incident but was discharged after being "thoroughly examined and assessed by the neurological team at St. Michael's Hospital and the club's medical director" according to the team. Tavares is out indefinitely and likely won't be seen again during the first round.
Tavares missed Monday's practice with an illness and will be a game-time decision tonight vs. the Coyotes. Tavares is reportedly feeling much better but his status is still up in the air.
Tavares missed seven games with a fractured finger but will play Tuesday vs. the Kings. Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs struggled without their captain, going 3-2-2 while averaging 3.00 goals per game versus 4-3-1 while averaging 3.88 goals per game with him in the lineup. He'll return with seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games and will play on a line with Mitch Marner and Trevor Moore.
The Maple Leafs were hopeful that Tavares would be able to return to the lineup on Saturday but head coach Mike Babcock ruled him out this morning. Look for the captain to return vs. the Kings on Tuesday.
Tavares has missed the last six games with a broken finger but was a full participant in the Maple Leafs' practice on Friday and he is "hopeful" to play on Saturday. Toronto went 2-2-2 without Tavares and he comes back with seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games, whenever he's healthy.
Tavares was originally expected to miss two weeks with a broken finger and he will hit that two-week mark on Thursday. Returning to practice on Wednesday is a positive sign that he is on-track in his recovery and means he could be an option on Saturday.
Tavares sustained a broken finger late in the Maple Leafs’ loss to the Capitals on Wednesday. Tavares will be out for at least two weeks and will be re-evaluated by the medical staff at that point. This is obviously a massive blow for the Maple Leafs and a rarity for Tavares, who has only missed a combined nine games over the last five seasons.
Tavares walks away from the Islanders after nine seasons, in which he scored 272 goals with 349 assists (621 points) in 669 games. The 27-year-old signs with his childhood team, joining one of the best, young teams in the NHL. Tavares, Auston Matthews and Nazem Kadri is as formidable of a trio down the middle as you will find across the league. Over the last four seasons, Tavares is sixth in the NHL in points (306), tied for sixth in goals (136) and 22nd in assists (170). His cap-hit is now tied with Drew Doughty for the second highest in the NHL.
