Muzzin battles through injury as Leafs ponder playoff pairs

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto Reporter Mark Masters reports on the Maple Leafs, who held an optional practice on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena ahead of Friday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

After sitting six straight games with an undisclosed injury, Jake Muzzin returned to the Leafs lineup on Tuesday.  

"It felt good and I felt good," he said with a smile. "So, it was good."

It's been a tough season for the 33-year-old defenceman, who started slow before being sidelined with two concussions. And that was before this latest injury issue popped up.    "It's a little bit of frustration, for sure, but it's part of the game," Muzzin said. "Any time you're away from the game or your teammates on the ice you get a sense of how special it is when you are there. I went through that this year."

Muzzin has only played five games since Feb. 21 and the latest injury remains a factor. 

"He's not going to be playing at 100 per cent," revealed coach Sheldon Keefe. "That's the reality. But, he played last night and got through the game and felt good and feels good today to the point that, on an optional day, he was back out on the ice again and continued to get work in. So, that's very encouraging."

With one game left in the regular season, Muzzin's status remains a question mark.  

"That's what I'm most concerned with here now," Keefe acknowledged. "The expectation is he'll play again on Friday and get another game in."

Muzzin partnered with T.J. Brodie and saw time on the penalty kill while logging 20 minutes and 38 seconds on Tuesday in the 3-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings.

"He's faced a lot of adversity," said goalie Jack Campbell. "To say, 'He's an important part of our team,' would be an