Maple Leafs Lose Max Pacioretty to Injury in Blowout Loss to Blue Jackets
The Leafs lost more than just the game on Tuesday against the Blue Jackets, as veteran winger Max Pacioretty was injured in Columbus on Tuesday.
Handed an embarrassing 6-2 loss on the second half of a back-to-back, the Leafs not only came out of Columbus beaten and embarrassed, they also leave Columbus down an important piece in Max Pacioretty.
At the start of the third period on Tuesday evening, TSN’s broadcast announced that Pacioretty was not on the Leafs’ bench, and a few moments later, the Leafs confirmed that Pacioretty would not be returning to the game after suffering a lower-body injury.
It is unclear as to when Pacioretty suffered the injury, but following the game, Leafs head coach Craig Berube did not sound optimistic about it being a short-term thing.
While his base salary is $873,770, his two games played bonuses are worth $313,115 each, with the first one kicking in after he plays in 10 games. Due to his healthy scratches and now the unknown severity around his injury, it may take a while before he earns his 10-game bonus and even longer to earn his 35-game bonus.
The Leafs take on Berube’s old team the St. Louis Blues on Thursday before reigniting their rivalry with the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Seeing Pacioretty skate in either of those games would come as a surprise.
