Maple Leafs Struggle Continues: Injuries Mount as Kings Come to Town

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a tough test against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, but their biggest challenge might not be the visitors - it's their own injury list. In their 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, the Leafs lost two key players: captain Auston Matthews and goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Matthews was hurt in the second period after taking a hit from Boston's Nikita Zadorov. While Matthews had returned the hit before finishing his shift, his status for Thursday's game is uncertain. Toronto coach Craig Berube expressed concern about the hit, saying Matthews was in a vulnerable position. The coach also downplayed the severity of Stolarz's injury, which saw him replaced by Dennis Hildeby in the first period. The Leafs are already missing top defenseman Chris Tanev and forward Scott Laughton due to upper-body injuries. Meanwhile, goaltender Joseph Woll is close to returning from a personal issue and is with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. The Kings, on the other hand, are on a roll, having won two straight games, including a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. They have won three of their last four games and are 7-1-2 away from home. Toronto forward Max Domi emphasized the importance of stepping up in the face of adversity, saying 'every guy in here is champing at the bit.' The Leafs will need to dig deep to overcome their injuries and take on the red-hot Kings.