John Tavares left Maple Leafs practice early after getting hurt during a power-play drill Craig Berube says he's still being evaluated
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John Tavares being evaluated after leaving practice with apparent leg injury

Photo credit: (Photo from Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)
Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares left Wednesday’s practice and headed immediately to the locker room after suffering an apparent leg injury during a power play drill. Tavares took an awkward fall near the boards after colliding with Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Tavares is still being evaluated after practice ended, telling reporters he didn’t see what happened.
“He’s being evaluated. I didn’t even see it. It kind of happened behind the net. I couldn’t really get a look at it. He’s being looked at now,” Berube said via Nick Barden of The Hockey News.
Here’s a video of the play where Tavares was injured, via Sportsnet.
Tavares has recorded 20 goals and 42 points in 43 games, and it would be a crushing loss for the Maple Leafs if he missed any time at all. The 34-year-old has been on a resurgent campaign and has provided stability to a Maple Leafs team that has weathered several injuries across the board through the first half of the season. Toronto sports a plus-15 goal differential when Tavares is on the ice at 5-on-5, and he’s winning 56.9 percent of his faceoffs in all situations, while facilitating strong results for his linemates.
Prior to leaving practice, Tavares was placed on a line with Max Pacioretty and William Nylander. If Tavares misses any time at all, it’s possible that Max Domi moves up in the lineup, or the Maple Leafs may deploy at Nylander at centre, in an effort to increase his icetime. Connor Dewar may re-enter the lineup again as an immediate replacement, after being initially being placed among the extras in Wednesday’s practice, via line rushes posted by Barden.
Tavares has been pacing towards a Hall of Fame career, and he’s in the final year of his existing contract, with all signs pointing to him re-signing with the Maple Leafs before the deal expires.
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