Leafs’ Mrazek out for rest of season with injury, Campbell and Muzzin close to return

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Petr Mràzek is expected to be out at least six weeks with a groin injury and will miss the rest of the regular season, head coach Sheldon Keefe said on Thursday.

Mràzek sustained the injury on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins. He left the game and did not return.

It’s the third time Mràzek has injured his groin this season.

The 30-year-old struggled in his first season with the Leafs, compiling a 3.34 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in 20 games (18 starts). He was leaned on as the starter after Jack Campbell got hurt and didn’t fare any better, leading to 25-year-old rookie Erik Källgren eventually taking over and Mràzek being placed on waivers, where he went unclaimed.

Mràzek is owed $3.8 million in each of the next two seasons.

Källgren is expected to get the start on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Michael Hutchinson was called up from the Toronto Marlies and will likely serve as the backup.

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Muzzin, Campbell close to a return

Keefe also provided updates on several other injured Leafs, including defencemen Jake Muzzin, Ilya Lyubushkin and goalie Jack Campbell.

Muzzin, currently on long-term injury reserved (LTIR), is “real close” to a return, Keefe said. The 33-year-old hasn’t appeared in a game since February 21 due to a concussion.

Keefe said doctors have medically cleared Campbell, who will practice with the team on Friday. Campbell could be back in action as early as Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Campbell, also on LTIR, hasn’t played since March 8 due to a rib injury. The 30-year-old was brilliant in the first few months of the season for Toronto, but his play stalled in February and March, leading to uncertainty in the crease for the Leafs.

In Campbell’s absence, Toronto opted against trading for a goalie at the trade deadline and had been rotating between Mràzek and Källgren in net.

Lyubushkin is showing signs of a concussion after being sucker-punched by Bruins winger Taylor Hall on Tuesday. He left the game and did not return. It’s unclear if he will miss any time.

The NHL fined Hall $5,000 for his actions.

The Leafs enter Thursday’s game against the Jets with 89 points — one back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for second in the Atlantic Division. The Florida Panthers are currently seven points ahead of Toronto in first place. After Tuesday’s loss, the Bruins are now two points back of the Leafs.

Toronto has 16 games remaining.