Maple Leafs' Forward Leaves Injured Shortly After Back-to-Back Scratches

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty had to spend a few days watching from the sidelines but that was just because of becoming a healthy scratch on back-to-back matchups.

Following Tuesday's 6-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, however, Pacioretty might be forced to sit for a while because of a real injury, not just his head coach Craig Berube's decisions.

Pacioretty left Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury and did not return for the third period as the Maple Leafs ruled him out for the remainder of the contest.

"Maple Leafs F Max Pacioretty will not return to tonight’s game (lower body)," Toronto posted on X.

After the game ended, Berube couldn't provide an update about the veteran's status as the franchise awaits further evaluation on Wednesday.

Pacioretty’s last shift came late in the second period, and he didn’t return to the bench afterward.

Speaking to the media following the game, Berube noted that the team would know more about the severity of the injury on Wednesday.

“We’ll find out tomorrow,” Berube said about the extent of Pacioretty's injury, per The Hockey News’ David Alter.

Pacioretty, 35, joined the Leafs during the offseason on a professional tryout deal before being signed to a one-year contract following the preseason.

His time in Toronto couldn't have started on a more positive note, with Pacioretty scoring in his second regular-season game with the Leafs and adding one more goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.

However, injuries have been a constant issue for the veteran forward in recent years and it took him less than two weeks to suffer his first one of the season.

Pacioretty suffered back-to-back Achilles injuries, limiting him to just five games with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2022–23 season. This season, he's appeared in five games for the Leafs, scoring 2 goals.

In a career spanning 16 NHL seasons, Pacioretty has tallied 332 goals and 668 points across 907 regular-season games. He also boasts 50 points in 78 career playoff appearances, mostly during his time with the Montreal Canadiens and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Following Tuesday's loss, the Leafs are 4-3-0 through seven games and left hoping Pacioretty's injury isn't serious so they don't lose a key depth forward in their rotation.

Related: Maple Leafs Get Update on Injured Forward's Timeline: 'Not Close'