Good/Bad night for the Leafs.  They won a Barnburner in NJ 5-4 in OT but Russian super rookie suffered a scary skate blade laceration in a freak accident late in the third.

Ilya Mikheyev’s hand is cut badly and he heads to the dressing room shedding blood

They think he’s going to be ok.. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/tlZ8IQFdCn

— David Nestico (@davidnestico200) December 28, 2019

Leafs forward Ilya Mikheyev suffered a significant laceration to his wrist and is being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and assessment.

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) December 28, 2019

Ilya, who scored or a tip from Tavares to make it 2-1 has been the free find of the NHL season since signing as a free agent who spent 4 seasons in the KHL.

Souperman cooking up something good #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/3y5txiTD5U

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 28, 2019

The 24-year-old has 22 pts (7G, 15A) this year playing anywhere he’s been asked and unless he pulls a Zaitsev, he’ll be a difference-maker in the NHL for a long time.  He’s sneaky fast, has great hands and plays his dick off in his own end.

I hope there’s no permanent ligament damage or otherwise but it sounds brutal and Mikheyev was freaking out like something was very, very wrong.

Michael Hutchinson on seeing Ilya Mikheyev run off: “It’s terrifying. All of a sudden I could just see a ton of blood coming from somewhere and a lot more than a usual hi-stick or anything like that. Hopefully he’s alright.”

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) December 28, 2019

According to Sheldon Keefe Via Kristen Shelton, Mikheyev is staying in Jersey for treatment and observation which isn’t a great sign.

Sheldon Keefe on Ilya Mikheyev: “He’s getting evaluated and it’s a deep cut, and now we’re just gonna have to get it sorted out. He’ll stay here in Jersey tonight and get evaluated to figure out what needs to be done.”

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) December 28, 2019

John Tavares said Mikheyev’s injury took emotional toll on #Leafs: “It was obviously scary there, and to see that much blood. That’s obviously a guy that we care deeply about.”

Keefe said players were asking for updates during stoppages, just seeing if he was alright.

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) December 28, 2019

Thoughts and Prayers for Mikheyev tonight.
On a positive note, the boys won it in OT for Mikheyev with an own goal created on a turnover by a backchecking William Nylander??

WINNER WINNER!#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/NBdVXzJTFZ

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) December 28, 2019

BTW, that’s six in a row, 8 of their last 10 and Hutch was terrific.

Hey, Mike Babcock…