Leafs get Zaitsev back from injury for pivotal Game 3 with Capitals
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost one defenceman to injury and gained another.
Nikita Zaitsev will become the 10th Leaf to make his playoff debut this spring, ready to rejoin the team for Game 3 on Monday night after sitting out the opening two games of a first round series against Washington with a suspected concussion. Zaitsev will replace veteran Roman Polak, who suffered a season-ending injury in Toronto’s 4-3 double-overtime win Saturday night.
“I feel better every day,” Zaitsev said after the morning skate. “Now I feel good and I’m ready to play.”
The 25-year-old will replace Polak on a pairing with Jake Gardiner, a duo that should match up against the Capitals’ top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie.