The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that forward Max Domi will be out indefinitely after complications arose from an off-season surgical procedure. The 31-year-old played 80 of 82 games this season, but the statement indicated that he had played through injury during the season, and that he will “continue working with the club’s medical staff and will be re-evaluated at the start of training camp”.
Domi had a subpar season with Toronto (12 goals, 24 assists, -29) to which the injury may have contributed, but the extent of the injury and his recovery casts doubt on his availability at the start of next season. The former Arizona first-rounder has two years remaining on a four-year, $15 million contract.
The Toronto Marlies Cinderella playoff run continued on Sunday, as the Leafs AHL affiliate came back from a 2-1 deficit in the third period of Game 5 of their best-of-five third round series to win 3-2 over the Cleveland Monsters. Marlies captain Logan Shaw tied the game on a one-timer with under five minutes remaining and with 12 seconds left, Easton Cowan converted on a Zach Sawchenko rebound to give the Marlies the victory.
“How can you not be excited about what just happened and those last five minutes. I do believe it started from the first five minutes. We came out with the right mindset. We did a lot of good things. Of course, they’re going to have their moments, but just the resilience of our group, our ability to bend and not break and never get to far straying from the task at hand.” Marlies head coach John Gruden said.
“It’s such a credit to our guys. The way they handled themselves on the bench and the way they handle themselves when our backs are against the wall. I said it to them between periods, we bet on you guys with our backs against the wall, and they perform. Man, how exciting was that? So, that was pretty special.”
The Marlies have won three deciding in each of the three playoff rounds this spring, going to Game 3 against Rochester, Game 5 against Laval, and Game 5 against Cleveland, and now will face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final. WSB eliminated Springfield in a deciding Game 5 8-1 on Saturday. The seven-game series will start on Wednesday and will be a 2-3-2 format, with the Penguins having home-ice advantage.
Game 1 – Wed., May 27 at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
Gm 2 – Fri., May 29 at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3 – Mon., June 1 vs. W-B/Scranton, 7:00 p.m.
Gm 4 – Wed., June 3 vs. W-B/Scranton, 7:00 p.m.
*Game 5 – Fri., June 5 vs. W-B/Scranton, 7:00 p.m.
*Gm 6 – Sun., June 7 at W-B/Scranton, 6:05 p.m.
*Game 7 – Tue., June 9 at W-B/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
