Coach Keefe gives an update on Liljegren and it’s NOT good

UPDATE: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has informed fans and the media that defenseman Timothy Liljegren will miss “significant time” after suffering and injury at the hands of Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand this evening.

From Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman:

And in case you missed it, here’s the play from Marchand that led to Liljegren’s injury:

Read below for our earlier report on this developing story.

Boston Bruins super pest Brad Marchand has gotten away with another one.

Late in the first period of tonight’s game between the Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marchand has been involved in another controversial hit. Marchand took out Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren with a dirty stick between the legs ‘can opener’ move deep in the Leafs zone. It was a dirty play that took Liljegren out of action.

Check it out:

No call on the play. Yeeesh…

Marchand was not issued a penalty on the play and Liljegren was helped off the ice after a brief stoppage in play. Stay tuned for an update on Liljegren’s status and for an update on a potential fine or suspension coming for Marchand.

UPDATE: Liljegren will NOT return to action this evening. He appeared to be favoring his foot or his ankle as he was helped off the ice.

Interestingly enough, Marchand may not be the only Bruins in discussion with NHL Player Safety in the next 24 hours. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy was suspended four games earlier this week for a high hit on Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and may end up not having the serve the entirety of the penalty.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports this evening that McAvoy is appealing his suspension and may be granted a lower penalty, but it’ll come down to commissioner Gary Bettman.

From Friedman:

Frank Seravalli is also reporting the same:

Needless to say that the Bruins will have old Gary on speed dial this week.

And here’s the hit in question:

McAvoy has been suspended only once before in his NHL career and that may factor into Bettman’s decision. You may recall that he was handed a one-game suspension during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs for a hit on then-Columbus forward Josh Anderson.