GAME DAY REPORT: Toronto will be down a man again tonight.

As the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for the biggest game of their season to date, head coach Mike Babcock was hopeful that the team would get injured defenceman Nikita Zaitsev  back in the lineup, but…no dice.

Zaitsev, who suffered a concussion last week in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, took to the ice in Washington, D.C. by himself this morning but will still be out of the lineup for tonight’s game against the Capitals. It’s a tough break for Zaitsev, Babcock and the rest of the Leafs as their defence corps is considerably stronger with Zaitsev in the lineup playing alongside partner Jake Gardiner. 

There’s no timetable for the rookie blue liner’s return and his status is officially ‘day to day’, so expect him to stay on the shelf until he’s symptom free. In his first NHL season Zaitsev has produced four goals and 32 assists for 36 points in 82 games.