It seems Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s remarkable stretch of playing through injuries has ended.
Starting every game this season, other than being forced to sit while being shopped at the trade deadline and to attend the birth of his second child, he is listed as doubtful by coach Craig Berube to media for Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings.
The 34-year-old suffered a lower-body injury Thursday in San Jose and did not return for the third period. Troy Stecher, who was in the stands Thursday, was with Simon Benoit at Friday’s practice while Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo were split up, Rielly with Phlippe Myers, Carlo with Jake McCabe.
Ekman-Larsson is having a strong year amid problematic issues through the whole of the Toronto defence. He’s two points shy of reaching 40 for the first time since 2018-19 with the Arizona Coyotes and had replaced Rielly as first unit power play quarterback.
Rielly was back in his old special teams’ spot at practice, McCabe on the second unit blue line. Coach Crig Berube said after Thursday’s game that he was told Ekman-Larsson’s injury was not serious.
After this California trip, the Leafs will have three days off until their next game at home against Washington on Wednesday.
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