Columbus Blue Jackets’ Patrik Laine leaves game against Maple Leafs with injury
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine left Thursday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after an awkward collision with defenseman William Lagesson and will not return.
Laine left the ice favoring his left shoulder after falling into the boards behind the Toronto net.
Lagesson to the box
that doesn't look good pic.twitter.com/CxtUa9c3bv
Laine scored Columbus’ opening goal to make it 1-0 early in the first period. Laine left the game with Columbus holding a 2-0 advantage over a Leafs team struggling to perform on home ice.
Laine missed nine games earlier this year due to an upper-body injury, and another three games this month due to an illness. He also missed 24 games last year due to various injuries and another two from COVID-19.
Laine has five goals and three points in 17 games with the Blue Jackets this year. It’s been a difficult year for Laine, who, beyond the injuries, also found himself as a healthy scratch last month after struggling to find the net. He has looked good as of late with five points in his past six games, with his ice time fluctuating from anywhere between 12 and 16 minutes a night.
The Blue Jackets entered the game with a 9-16-5 record, good for 23 points. Only the Ottawa Senators (22 points) have fewer than they do in the Eastern Conference, with Columbus boasting a 4-5-1 record over the past 10 games.