NHL rules in the bubble is screwing things up for the Leafs!

The Toronto Maple Leafs might have won the second game of the series against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, they lost big towards the end of the contest when veteran defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken out on a stretcher. 

The blue liner was stretchered off the ice at Scotiabank Arena with 1:52 remaining in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory. He fell awkwardly after being cross-checked behind the net and remained down for more than 10 minutes before the stretcher took him off.

He moved his arms and legs and was able to speak with trainers and doctors on the ice, and head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed after the game that Muzzin had been transported to the hospital when he was alert.

However, even tough things might be looking up for Muzzin’s condition, it could mean that the Leafs will have to be without him for a while no matter what. 

That’s because Muzzin left the bubble by getting transported to the hospital, which could force him to have to stay quarantined until he tests negative four times straight to COVID-19.

According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, “if/when Muzzin is cleared to re-enter  the NHL bubble, there is no hard and fast rule for quarantine and/or testing required to rejoin the Leafs. It will be up to Hub Medical Director, in consultation with Event Medical Director, based his type and degree of exposure outside bubble.”

The rules put together in the Toronto and Edmonton bubbles could now screw things up for the local club. The Maple Leafs need Muzzin’s veteran presence and Stanley Cup playoff experience to keep going in this qualifying round against the Jackets, and moving forward. 

We will surely know more on Muzzin’s health and his return to the bubble in the coming days. If Muzzin remains out long-term, either because of the injury or the rules from the bubble, team insider Kristen Shilton of TSN believes Martin Marincin and Travis Holl pairing is going to make a comeback.