Awesome news concerning Nikita Zaitsev.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were probably a bit concerned about their blueline, despite coming into Toronto tied up 1-1 after an amazing double-overtime victory over Washington.

Unfortunately, Game 2 took its tole on the Leafs lineup. Gritty veteran defenseman Roman Polak suffered a season-ending leg injury in the second period. This left Toronto’s blueline looking pretty thin heading into their first game at home.

But then, a day later, 25-year-old Nikita Zaitsev posted a video of himself skating at practice, with a promise to see Toronto fans soon. The video has since been deleted, but it didn't go noticed. 

How soon? Well, Zaitsev’s agent retweeted the Russian blueliner with the clarification that it would be very soon.

Zaitsev played in all 82 of the Maple Leafs regular season games, his first NHL season after spending seven years skating in the KHL. He was sidelined an upper body injury in the last game of the regular season, a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Zaitsev couldn’t get back into the lineup at a more crucial time with Polak’s injury. Zaitsev put up 4 goals and 32 assist for 36 points in the regular season. He’s not the shutdown defender that Polak is, but he’ll still be able to help the team and take on some big minutes for the Leafs.

Washington will look to recapture the dominate form that took them through the regular season as the NHL’s top team, but Toronto has all the momentum heading into two games on home ice after a nail-biting finish to their second playoff game.

With the series tied 1-1, Game 3 will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Monday, April 17^th.