Nick Foligno did not play for the Maple Leafs in Games 3 and 4 of their Stanley Cup first-round series, both wins, Eloy Jimenez Jersey against the Canadiens. Coach Sheldon Keefe announced Thursday following the team's morning skate that Foligno would mi s Game 5as well. The team announced before puck drop Monday that the veteran forward was out with a lower-body injury.
Prior to Game 5, Foligno did skate with Michael Kopech Jersey injured captain John Tavares before the morning skate. Foligno remains day to day but is progre sing.
The news that Foligno would mi s Game 3 came as a surprise. Just hours earlier, Keefe said, "Nick will play tonight." He also participated in warmups before Monday's game and took line rushes between Alex Galchenyuk and William Nylander.
Foligno did not participate in the team's morning skate Mondayand Toronto did not practice Sunday. Riley Nash took his spot in the morning and warmed up as well Nellie Fox Jersey ; Nash slotted into Foligno's spot in the official lineup. After the game, Keefe said that Foligno was day to day.
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Losing Foligno leaves a big hole in the Leafs' lineup, as the 33-year-old was shifted to Tavares' second-line center duties. Tavares was injured in Blank Jersey Game 1 and is . In Game 2, Foligno played 13:24 with three shots and won 13 of 16 faceoffs. The move to center made sense for Keefe to make, but it also came after Foligno offered up his services down the middle.
"We don't have an abundance of options," Keefe said before Game 2. "Nick has played a lot of center. He played a lot of center in Columbus Luis Robert Jersey before he came here this season. Even when he plays left wing, Nick ends up spending a lot of time playing low in the defensive zone. He is usually high in the offensive zone. He is usually the first guy back. He is very comfortable playing down low in our own end. It is a natural fit."
After coming over from the Blue Jackets , Foligno notched four a sists in seven games all on the Yasmani Grandal Jersey wing. In the two playoff games, he hadan a sist on Toronto's lone goal, by Nylander,in its Game 1 lo s.
