TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares was back on the ice for a skate on Thursday, one week after suffering a concussion and a knee injury in a scary collision.
Tavares skated at Scotiabank Arena with fellow Leafs forward Nick Foligno (lower-body injury), who missed his third straight game in Toronto’s playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
Tavares was checked to the ice in the first period of last Thursday’s 2-1 loss in Game 1 by Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot into the path of an oncoming Corey Perry, who was unable to avoid contact. Perry’s knee hit Tavares’ face.
The 30-year-old was motionless before trying to get up as trainers and doctors from both teams provided medical attention inside an empty, eerily quiet Scotiabank Arena. Tavares was eventually stretchered off the ice. Tavares stayed overnight at hospital before he was discharged.
“He’s obviously progressing very well to the point that he’s gone through the different steps to now get on to the ice,” Leafs Coach Sheldon Keefe said. “That’s a step for him. He wasn’t on there very long, but felt really good coming off. He’s got two different (injuries) that they’re monitoring with his knee and the concussion. Progress has been very good on both fronts.”
WILD-GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Vegas will host a Game 7 for the first time Friday night when it plays the Minnesota Wild, who have staved off elimination by winning the past two games.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Vegas Coach Peter DeBoer, who is 5-0 in Game 7s. “This is why you work all season – to have the record you have, to host this game in your building and give yourself a best opportunity.”
The winner of the first-round series will advance to face the Colorado Avalanche, who tied the Golden Knights for the best regular-season record. Colorado secured home-ice advantage because it had more regulation wins and swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round.
The Golden Knights have held 3-1 series leads in each of the past three postseasons only to wind up in a must-win situation. They lost in overtime in Game 7 two years ago in San Jose. Last season in the playoff bubble, after losing to the Vancouver Canucks in Games 5 and 6, the Golden Knights bounced back to advanced to the Western Conference final.
Now, after losing in Las Vegas on Monday and in Minnesota on Wednesday, the Golden Knights are set to host a winner-take-all game in one of the NHL’s most electric arenas.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. “Our fans are definitely going to be full of energy and they’re going to be pretty loud, so let’s make the most of it. Your home arena with all your fans excited and full of emotions — it’s the stuff that we dream about as kids.”
The Golden Knights, who reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 in their inaugural season, are 2-8 since then in playoff games with a chance to advance.
THURSDAY’S GAME
CANADIENS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 3: Nick Suzuki scored 59 seconds into overtime on a 2-on-0 rush and visiting Montreal rebounded after blowing a three-goal lead to force Game 6 in the first-round matchup.
Joel Armia scored twice, Jesperi Kotkaniemi added a goal and Carey Price made 32 saves to help Montreal cut Toronto’s series lead to 3-2.
Jake Muzzin scored twice for Toronto. Zach Hyman had a goal and Jack Campbell stopped 26 shots.
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