Marner leaves Maple Leafs practice early after 'scary' collision with Muzzin

Mitch Marner’s status for Saturday’s game in Minnesota is uncertain after the Toronto Maple Leafs winger was on the sour end of an accidental collision with teammate Jake Muzzin during Friday’s practice.

Marner hit the ice after the hit and needed a few moments to rise to his feet.

“It’s scary. I just hope everyone’s OK,” goaltender Joseph Woll told reporters.

“Two very important players on our team, and Mitchy looked like he took a little bit of the worst of it. So, I hope he’s good. He’s a battler, so I’m sure he’ll be fine and do everything he can to be playing.”

After expressing some frustration to Muzzin, Marner skated off the Ford Performance Centre ice early for precautionary reasons. He was accompanied by a member of the club’s medical staff.

“We’ll see how he is in the morning. It’s not looking like anything serious at this point. He’s going to travel and all that kind of stuff and prepare to play, but we’ll see how he is in the morning,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said before the club chartered west.

“I was told there was a little bit of an exchange right before I came out here, but especially those two guys, I don’t worry about that kind of stuff at all. Things happen out there, whether it’s practice, games, whatever. Our team’s really close, and that kind of stuff will be shaken off pretty quickly.”

This is the second time this season Marner has been on the business end of an accidental hit during Leafs practice.

Wayne Simmonds clipped the winger the day before October’s opener. Marner left that skate early, too, but felt fine the next morning and has not missed a game all season.

Marner leads the club with 15 assists.

One-Timers: Ondrej Kase (upper body) took part in his first full practice in more than a week. He’s a possibility to draw into the lineup against the Wild. … Ilya Mikheyev (thumb) also skated with the team. He’ll travel with the group for the weekend double-header but will not play. … Backup goalie Petr Mrazek (groin) has been loaned to the Marlies on a conditioning stint. He’s expected to start Sunday versus Laval. … Both Joseph Woll (day-to-day, stiffness) and Michael Hutchinson will travel with the team. One should get the start Sunday in Winnipeg. … Morgan Rielly took Friday off for maintenance. He’s still smarting from a shot block (watch below) a week ago in San Jose and hasn’t missed a game since. “It acted up to the point where they wanted to get further imaging on it,” Keefe said. X-rays were clear.

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