Leafs' playoff push hits snag as Andersen suffers mysterious injury

It wouldn’t be a Toronto Maple Leafs playoff push without a little late-season angst.

After climbing into third place in the Atlantic Division with some big wins this week, the Leafs’ playoff hopes were dealt a potentially devastating blow when Frederik Andersen left Saturday’s game in Buffalo with a mysterious injury.

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Here’s what we know so far:

Mike Babcock said in his postgame presser that he was informed in the first intermission by the Sabres team doctor that Andersen should be pulled from the game.

Sportsnet’s Christine Simpson reported during the broadcast that Andersen would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury.

The Leafs goalie was seen leaving KeyBank Center in a suit, not in a cast or a sling.

Given the evidence available, many began speculating Andersen was yanked as part of the NHL’s concussion protocol.

That would seem to make sense, and while there’s no smoking gun Andersen looked shaken up after this collision with William Carrier.

Barring an unexpected update on Sunday, the Leafs won’t know the fate of their starting goaltender until Monday, according to Babcock.

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Things could get dicey for the Leafs if Andersen is forced to miss any time. Andersen has been dynamite of late, allowing more than two goals only once over his last 11 starts.

And while Curtis McElhinney has posted a .923 save percentage since joining the Leafs in January, you don’t really want to hitch your playoff hopes to a 33-year-old career back-up who was placed on waivers earlier in the season.

Toronto doesn’t have much room for error, with the Bruins one point back in the Atlantic, the Islanders three points back in a wild-card spot, and several other teams lurking.

The Maple Leafs fortunately have two days off before taking on the Panthers at home Tuesday night, allowing Andersen to rest up and giving fans some additional time to build a panic room as they prepare for the worst.