Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner will not be playing against the Calgary Flames due to a lower-body injury, as announced just 30 minutes before the game. This marks the second game of the team’s four-match Western Conference road trip, following an intense 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
The absence of Marner, who has been a standout performer for the Leafs this season, is significant. With 70 points in 52 games, he’s on track to hit 100 points for the first time in his career and leads the team by 18 points over William Nylander. This will be his first missed game of the season, a surprising development for both his teammates and head coach Craig Berube, especially since Marner had been listed as a game-time decision for the match against Calgary.
The injury, believed to have occurred during the Leafs’ matchup with the Oilers, has kept Marner out of the last two practices. His absence raises questions about his availability for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament with Team Canada, though reports indicate that, despite the injury, Marner is still expected to participate.
As for the Maple Leafs, they sit in second place in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Ottawa Senators and three points behind the Florida Panthers, who have played two additional games. Last season, the team posted an 8-4-1 record without Marner in the lineup, showing their resilience even in his absence.
