Leafs’ Jake Gardiner leaves game against Blue Jackets with injury

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Gardiner left Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury.

Gardiner exited the game with approximately nine minutes to play in the first after he played just six shifts over 5:44 of ice time.

After the game, head coach Mike Babcock told reporters that Gardiner had a muscle spasm in his leg and, “They wouldn’t let him come back.”

In 58 games this season, the 27-year-old has four goals and 31 assists with a plus-seven rating.

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