TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 04: Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs is carried off the ice during the third period in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff at Scotiabank Arena on August 04, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Maple Leafs' Muzzin taken to hospital after being stretchered off in Game 2

6 years ago

Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken to hospital after being stretchered off Tuesday following an awkward collision late in Game 2 of his club's qualifying-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus center Pierre-Luc Dubois cross-checked Muzzin behind the Toronto net, and the blue-liner then appeared to hit his head on the leg of Blue Jackets winger Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Here's the cross check from Pierre-Luc Dubois on Jake Muzzin. No penalty for Dubois. pic.twitter.com/AMdu7lFuU4
— The Leafs Nation (@TLNdc) August 4, 2020

Muzzin briefly sat up while talking to a trainer on the ice. It took several minutes for medical staff to place him on the stretcher before removing him.

Toronto confirmed after its 3-0 victory that Muzzin had been hospitalized. The team added that he was alert and could move all of his limbs.

The NHL's quarantine rules could force the 31-year-old rearguard to miss Toronto's next two games. The Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets are scheduled to play Game 3 on Thursday, with Game 4 to follow on Friday.

If Muzzin leaves the "bubble" (aka the Phase 4 Secure Zone) to be hospitalized, it'll take four days at least to be cleared to return to play pic.twitter.com/mRFyW0FkJL
— Kevin McGran (@kevin_mcgran) August 4, 2020

Muzzin is a key member of Toronto's defense corps. He ranked third on the team in average ice time during the regular season, logging 21:36 per night while collecting 23 points in 53 contests.