Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Can't crack postseason lineup
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Giordano has not been able to crack the postseason lineup against the Bruins in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Giordano, who missed significant time this season to injury and following his father's death, has 1,148 regular-season NHL games, but only 37 postseason games to his name. He started in 2005-06, and he headed off to the KHL in 2007-08 where he played 50 games for Moscow Dynamo. Giordano is nearing the end of his career, but with newcomers Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson on the blue line, he has found it hard to crack the top-six. The Leafs are on the verge of elimination, down 3-1 to the Bruins this postseason, so Father Time is catching up with Giordano.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Goal in return from injury
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Giordano (concussion) scored a goal Thursday in a 5-1 win over the Capitals.
It was his first game back after missing 12 games with a concussion. Giordano took a pass from Matthew Knies and fired high blocker side from above the left faceoff circle. It ended a 30-game goal drought that dated back to Oct. 28 against the Predators. More touching was Gio's gesture after the goal as he pointed to the sky to honor his father who died last month. Giordano isn't much of a fantasy force, but Thursday was a night to remember.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Ready to return Thursday
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Giordano was activated off long-term injured reserve and will play Thursday versus Washington, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
Giordano has a goal, seven points, 33 PIM, 42 hits and 76 blocks in 38 outings in 2023-24. His return to the lineup coincidentally corresponds with Timothy Liljegren exiting due to an upper-body injury.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Shifts to LTIR
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Giordano (concussion) was moved to long-term injured reserve Monday, per CapFriendly.
Giordano has already been out of action for the Leafs' last five contests due to his concussion but now faces on extended stint on long-term IR. Following the additions of Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson at the deadline, the 40-year-old Giordano is far from a lock for the lineup on a nightly basis even once cleared to return.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Going on injured reserve
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General manager Brad Treliving said Friday that Giordano (concussion) will go on injured reserve, according to David Alter of The Hockey News.
Giordano took a nasty spill into the end boards in the opening period Thursday and had to be helped off the ice. The Maple Leafs dealt for Ilya Lyubushkin after the game, giving them six healthy defensemen. There is currently no timetable for Giordano's return. He has a goal and seven points in 38 games this season.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Sustains head injury
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Giordano left Thursday's game versus the Coyotes with an apparent head injury, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Giordano hit the boards hard in the first period and didn't return to the game. The 40-year-old could be set for an absence, which would leave the Maple Leafs short on the blue line. Another update on his status should surface prior to puck drop Saturday versus the Rangers.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Rejoins team Monday
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Giordano (personal) was back at practice ahead of Tuesday's clash with Vegas, Jonas Siegel of The Athletic reports.
Giordano looks set to get back into the lineup for the first time since Feb. 15 versus the Flyers, a stretch of five games on non-roster injured reserve. In 36 games this season, the 40-year-old defenseman is averaging just 17:02 of ice time and has been limited to one goal on 44 shots to go with six helpers.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Shifts to non-roster list
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Giordano (personal) was placed on the non-roster list Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Giordano sat out Saturday's 9-2 win over Anaheim following the death of his father Thursday. His addition to the non-roster list probably means he won't be available for Monday's contest versus St. Louis, either. Giordano has earned seven points, 44 shots on goal and 76 blocked shots in 36 games this season.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Unavailable Saturday
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Giordano (personal) won't play Saturday against Anaheim, according to Nick Barden of The Hockey News.
Giordano is away from the team following the passing of his father, Paul, on Thursday night. The 40-year-old blueliner has seven points and 76 blocked shots in 36 games this season. Max Lajoie is projected to replace Giordano in the lineup Saturday.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Returns from injury
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Giordano recorded an assist in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Blues.
After missing the last game with a lower-body injury, Giordano returned to his regular spot on the left side of the third defensive pairing. He and defensive partner William Lagesson helped hold the Blues in check all night as St. Louis only produced 15 total shots on Ilya Samsonov. Giordano finished with an assist on the empty-net goal and a plus-2 rating in 16:38 TOI.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Ready to rock
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Giordano (lower body) will return to the lineup Tuesday against St. Louis, Mark Masters of TSN reports.
Giordano is expected to return to a third-pairing role following his one-game absence. The 40-year-old blueliner is no longer a fantasy asset at this stage in his career -- he has just six points through 34 contests this season -- but he's still valuable as a strong veteran presence for the Maple Leafs.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Won't play Saturday
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Giordano suffered a lower-body injury versus Dallas on Wednesday and won't play Saturday against Ottawa, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
Giordano, who may be out a bit longer than day-to-day, will be replaced in the lineup by William Lagesson. The 40-year-old Giordano has not had a point in his last 12 games and has a goal and six points in 34 appearances this season.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Picks up helper
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Giordano logged an assist in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes.
Giordano helped out on a Timothy Liljegren goal in the third period. This was Giordano's second game back from a finger injury that sent him to long-term injured reserve. The 40-year-old blueliner should be expected to hold down a bottom-four role as long as he can stay healthy. He's picked up six points, 28 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, 24 hits, 27 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 22 appearances this season.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Expects to play Friday
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Giordano (finger) is expecting to return to the lineup Friday in Columbus, per Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun.
Giordano was injured Nov. 28, but he practiced Thursday alongside Timothy Liljegren on the third pairing. Giordano, who's missed the last 12 contests, has a goal and four assists in 20 games this season.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Not ready to return Wednesday
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Giordano (finger) isn't expected to return Wednesday versus Ottawa, per Jonas Siegel of The Athletic.
Giordano did participate in the morning skate, but he practiced alongside projected healthy scratch Conor Timmins, Terry Koshan of The Toronto Sun reports. Giordano hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 28, but he's believed to be day-to-day at this point, so the 40-year-old might be an option to return as soon as Friday versus Columbus. When he does play, it will likely be as a member of the third pairing.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Won't return before Christmas
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Giordano (finger) will not play prior to the NHL's Christmas break, Joshua Kloke of The Athletic reports Thursday.
Giordano is expected to be day-to-day coming out of the break but will have been sidelined for 11 games at that point. The blueliner has struggled offensively this season with just three assists in his last 12 outings. Still, Giordano should have enough time to get over the 20-point threshold for the 11th consecutive campaign.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Lands on injured reserve
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Giordano (finger) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Giordano is already considered week-to-week with a broken finger, so this move is unlikely to impact his timeline to return. The 40-year-old defenseman's absence opens the door for Simon Benoit and William Lagesson to play more frequently, as the Maple Leafs navigate a rough patch for health on their blue line.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Week-to-week
Rotowire
Giordano suffered a broken finger versus Florida on Tuesday and is week-to-week, according to Sportsnet.ca.
Giordano's loss won't be significant as far as his fantasy value is concerened as he has just one goal, four assists, 50 blocked shots and 24 hits this year, but his presence will be missed on the Maple Leafs' blue line. Look for William Lagesson to return to the lineup against Seattle on Thursday after he was a healthy scratch Tuesday against the Panthers.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Won't play Thursday
Rotowire
Giordano is being evaluated for a hand injury, and he'll miss Thursday's game against Seattle at a minimum, coach Sheldon Keefe told Jonas Siegel of The Athletic on Wednesday.
Giordano was injured during Tuesday's 2-1 shootout win over Florida. He has a goal and five points in 20 contests this season. With Giordano out Thursday, William Lagesson will likely draw back into the lineup.
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Maple Leafs' Mark Giordano: Set to miss time
Rotowire
Giordano (upper body) will miss time after sustaining an injury in Tuesday's game versus the Panthers, Joshua Kloke of The Athletic reports.
Giordano seems likely to miss at least the next two games after head coach Sheldon Keefe provided the injury update in his postgame comments. With Giordano out, William Lagesson will probably enter the Maple Leafs' lineup against the Kraken on Thursday.
