Jake McCabe Leaves Maple Leafs’ Game Against Flyers With Upper-Body Injury After Awkward Fall In Fight With Garnet Hathaway

Jake McCabe won’t return to Sunday’s game for the Toronto Maple Leafs after falling to the ice awkwardly during a fight with Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway, the team announced.

The 31-year-old dropped the gloves with Hathaway after he collided with goaltender Dennis Hildeby with six seconds left in the first period. Both players got a few punches in before McCabe fell to the ice hard.

The Maple Leafs defenseman attempted to get up on his own but fell backwards. Morgan Rielly was there to catch him before Toronto’s Head Athletic Therapist, Paul Ayotte, came and assisted McCabe back to his feet.

McCabe exited the ice on his own, which was a good sign after what looked like a hard fall to the ice. Both players were assessed fighting majors and got an extra two minutes each (McCabe for roughing, Hathaway for goaltender interference).

The defenseman missed five games in early December after taking a puck to the head in Toronto’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 30. He returned to the Maple Leafs’ lineup on Dec. 12 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Related: ‘Feeling A Lot Better Than I Was Last Week’: Why Jake McCabe Is Ready To Return To Maple Leafs Lineup Against Ducks After Missing Five Games With Injury

McCabe has one goal and 10 assists while averaging 21:15 through 35 games with Toronto this season. His first goal came on Saturday night in the Maple Leafs’ 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins.

He and fellow defenseman Simon Benoit had a running bet on who would score first this season. Benoit admitted on Sunday morning that he owed McCabe $100 after the defenseman scored the night prior.

Related: ‘I Just Lost 100 Bucks’: Maple Leafs’ Simon Benoit Loses Bet With Jake McCabe On Which Defenseman Will Score First This Season

McCabe signed a five-year, $22.57 million contract extension with the Maple Leafs on Oct. 28. That deal, which carries an annual average value of $4.513 million, is set to begin next season.

He has 32 goals and 129 assists for 163 points in 612 games, split between the Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, and Chicago Blackhawks.

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