The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Monday that defenseman Chris Tanev would miss their game against the Winnipeg Jets due to a lower-body injury.
Tanev, who has been a key part of the Leafs’ defensive lineup this season, was a late scratch after participating in pre-game warmups.
Neither Leafs head coach Craig Berube nor the team PR account offered an update on Tanev's status after the game.
With no matchups on the Leafs' schedule until Friday amid the NHL's holiday break, it's possible Toronto won't provide any information until Thursday.
The 35-year-old defenseman has been a stabilizing presence on the Leafs' blue line, leading the team in blocked shots with 99 and averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game.
Tanev also leads the team in penalty-kill minutes, making his absence a significant blow to the Leafs’ defensive unit assuming he cannot recover in time for the games coming after the break.
Tanev’s injury adds to the loss of captain Auston Matthews, who remains out with a re-aggravated upper-body issue, as confirmed by coach Berube before Monday's outing.
"I'm not a doctor. I can't answer that question," Berube said on Sunday when asked about the level of concern over Matthews' injury, per The Hockey News' David Alter. "I'm hoping here with the break coming up, he can get some relief, feel better, be ready to go, recharge. So that's really all I can say about it."
Tanev, who signed a six-year deal with Toronto this offseason, had played in all 34 games until now, contributing 10 points and a plus-11 rating.
