First the news:
The @MapleLeafs have placed defenceman Morgan Rielly on the injured reserve list with an upper body injury. #TMLtalk
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 22, 2018
Injured reserve has to last seven days, so this means Rielly is out until after the All-Star Game. As for the Valiev news, there's not a lot of possible reasons why he'd be called up to be the seventh defender ahead of Calle Rosen and Martin Marincin other than his status as an expiring RFA who the Leafs need to make a decision about. At 22, he's nearing the age where he should seem like a player if he is one.
Now onto the chat...
Leafs (26-17-5) vs. Avalanche (26-16-3)
7:00 pm ET
TV: SNO (blackouts in effect)
Our game preview with lineups is here.
The last time these two teams met was on December 29 and it was one odd game. Both Roman Polak and Matt Martin scored in the game.
Seriously! That happened! Polak even got an assist on Martin's goal, which was an deflection off on the Avalanche players. JvR heroically tied the game with seconds left. The Leafs lost in OT when Connor Brown was sent to the box on an odd interference penalty.
Let's hope for a regulation win tonight.
ICYMI
Leafs prospect report: A quiet week all around - elseldo
It’s not a highlight filled crop of North American prospects this season.
Finland announces their men’s Olympic roster with some familiar names - Katya
We revisit a cautionary tale on assuming KHL success will cross the Atlantic with ease.
