Maple Leafs Concerned Over Zadorov’s Hit on Laughton
Leafs centre Scott Laughton left Saturday night’s game after a heavy hit from Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov in the second period. The Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
Coach Craig Berube Reacts
“I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it.”
Berube commented on the hit that knocked Laughton out of the game, expressing concern over its nature. Laughton will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, though the full recovery timeline remains uncertain.
Players' Reactions to the Hit
- Bobby McMann: Confronted Zadorov after the hit but admitted, “I didn’t really see the whole thing, just 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.”
- John Tavares: Said, “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.”
Laughton’s Injury Background
Scott Laughton had recently returned from a lower-body injury sustained during training camp, making his regular season debut just days before this incident.
Nikita Zadorov’s hit drew strong reactions and concern from both players and coaching staff, highlighting the intensity of the game.
Author’s summary: The controversial hit by Nikita Zadorov on Scott Laughton sidelined the Leafs centre, sparking concern from players, coaches, and fans alike.