The Toronto Maple Leafs placed center Tyler Bozak (oblique strain) on injured reserve Thursday. An MRI exam for Bozak revealed the injury, and coach Randy Carlyle told reporters at the morning skate it will keep him out for an "extended period of time."
Bozak was injured during a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. He recently returned from a hamstring injury that cost him 12 games. He has 11 points, a plus-5 rating and is averaging 21:04 of ice time in 16 games.
The injuries continue to pile up around the Maple Leafs, who play host to the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Although Phil Kessel (undisclosed) will play, Joffrey Lupul (groin strain) and Dave Bolland (severed Achilles tendon) are out. Colton Orr had a procedure done on a bursa sac in his elbow and was placed on IR.
"It's very frustrating and disappointing that we're going through the rash of injuries that we are now," Carlyle said. "But it's really not time to talk about the injured players. It's time to talk about the players that we have in our lineup; there's opportunities made available."
The Maple Leafs recalled forward Jerry D'Amigo from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. Forward Jerred Smithson was assigned to the Marlies to make room for D'Amigo.
"It's a great opportunity for me to get my first shot here," D'Amigo said. "Hopefully I'm not too nervous."
The Stars are banged up as well. Ryan Garbutt (lower body) is out. Tyler Seguin (concussion) was on the ice Thursday morning and will be in the lineup.
Here are the projected lines for the Stars and Maple Leafs:
STARS
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Rich Peverley
Ray Whitney – Cody Eakin – Alex Chiasson
Antoine Roussel – Vernon Fiddler – Dustin Jeffrey
Erik Cole – Shawn Horcoff – Valeri Nichushkin
Brenden Dillon – Jamie Oleksiak
Kevin Connauton – Sergei Gonchar
Scratched: Jordie Benn
Injured: Ryan Garbutt (lower body), Stephane Robidas (leg), Aaron Rome (muscle)
MAPLE LEAFS
James van Riemsdyk – Nazem Kadri – Phil Kessel
Mason Raymond – Trevor Smith – David Clarkson
Jerry D'Amigo – Peter Holland – Nikolai Kulemin
Frazer McLaren – Jay McClement – Carter Ashton
Carl Gunnarsson – Dion Phaneuf
Scratched: Mark Fraser
Injured: Tyler Bozak (oblique strain), Colton Orr (elbow), Dave Bolland (ankle), Joffrey Lupul (groin)
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