Maple Leafs Express Concern Over Zadorov’s Hit on Laughton
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Scott Laughton exited Saturday’s game after a heavy hit from Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov in the second period. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena.
Craig Berube, Bruins coach, on the hit that knocked Laughton out of the game:
“I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it.”
Laughton is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, although Berube is uncertain about his recovery timeline.
Reactions From the Maple Leafs
Bobby McMann confronted Zadorov immediately after the hit. McMann admitted, “I didn’t really see the whole thing. Just kind of caught it out of the corner of my eye. Didn’t really love the hit from what I saw and wanted to make sure he knew I didn’t like it.”
Centre John Tavares added, “I didn’t see it, to be honest, super clean. But don’t like anything high that’s for sure and I know our bench didn’t like it. Not an easy thing by Bobby to get in there and step up for Laughty so that was a hell of a job by him.”
Context on Laughton’s Condition
Laughton, who had a lower-body injury during training camp, had just returned for his regular season debut on Wednesday before sustaining this new injury.
Highlights
- Zadorov’s hit was perceived as targeting the head by Bruins coach Berube.
- Laughton will miss at least Sunday’s game, with further recovery time unknown.
- Maple Leafs players showed strong support for Laughton’s wellbeing and reacted decisively.
Author’s summary: Scott Laughton's injury following Zadorov's controversial hit has raised concerns, with teammates and coaches expressing unease and emphasizing the physical nature of the game.