Breaking: Leafs will be down a man for Game 2 of the playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs took an early lead in Game 1 of the playoffs but they weren't able to hold on to it eventually falling to the Washington Capitals. However one has to wonder if things could have been different had defenseman Nikita Zaitsev been healthy. 

Unfortunately Toronto will have to wait to find out because on Friday TSN insider Mark Masters confirmed that Zaitsev would once again  be sidelined as a result of his injury. 

While this is not an official conformation, according to Masters' head coach Mike Babcock himself has informed that Zaitsev is "expected" to miss the Leafs second playoff game of the season. 

A tough break for Toronto to be sure, but a great learning and character building experience for their young group of players.

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