Toronto gets unwelcome injury news during the game, and one major question remains unanswered

Leafs PR just announced that Morgan Rielly will not return to the Maple Leafs' game tonight with a lower-body injury.

Toronto is in the second period against Montreal as this develops, and the defenseman will watch the rest from the sidelines.

Leafs PR put out the update during the game, saying Rielly is done for the night with the injury listed as lower body.

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That is all we have. There is no word on how it happened, how serious it is or whether he will be ready for Sunday. Until the team says more, the right word is uncertain.

The timing stings because Rielly has been climbing. Luke Fox highlighted Morgan Rielly's quiet rebuild this season just two days ago, and the numbers back it up.

He has 12 points in 17 games, all of them assists. He has yet to score a goal, but he has been driving the offense from the back end.

The Maple Leafs don't have much cushion to absorb a loss like this. They sit at 8-7-2 with 18 points, and they dropped a 3-2 decision to Utah on Tuesday.

What a Rielly absence would mean for Toronto

Toronto is a +6 team in goal differential, which tells you the margin is thin. A club like that can't easily lose a veteran defenseman who has just found his rhythm.

Coach Jim Hiller would have to reshuffle his blue line on the fly if this stretches beyond tonight. That is a hypothetical for now, and the team hasn't suggested anything of the sort.

Rielly has played 968 regular-season games, all of them since the Maple Leafs took him fifth overall in 2012. His career total of 561 points shows how much the team leans on him.

Toronto plays New Jersey on Sunday, and Rielly's status for that game is the next thing to watch.

Quick hits

DETROIT RED WINGS: Colorado is going with MacKenzie Blackwood in net tonight against Detroit, according to Colorado Hockey Now. The Wings will need to test him early.

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MINNESOTA WILD: Michael Russo posted the Wild's lines against the Lightning, and both Foligno brothers are in. That's a nice family reunion on the ice.

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NEW YORK RANGERS: Joonas Korpisalo got his first win as a Ranger, holding on for a 4-3 victory over the Kraken in Seattle. It was a wild debut, and he survived it.

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OTTAWA SENATORS: The Senators confirmed they are running back the same lineup against Utah tonight. When it works, you don't touch it.

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SAN JOSE SHARKS: Robert Tiffin reports that Ryan Warsofsky is starting Alex Nedeljkovic in goal for the Sharks tonight in Dallas. It's a tough road assignment for the netminder.

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