Maple Leafs take issue with Zadorov’s hit on Laughton

Maple Leafs Take Issue with Zadorov’s Hit on Laughton

Leafs centre Scott Laughton left Saturday night’s game after a heavy hit from Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov in the second period. The Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

Coach Craig Berube’s Reaction

“I thought it was a head shot. I gotta take a closer look at it.” — Craig Berube, Bruins head coach

Berube expressed concern over the hit and confirmed Laughton will miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, although the exact recovery timeline remains uncertain.

Players Respond to the Hit

Bobby McMann quickly confronted Zadorov after the incident. McMann said, “I didn’t really see the whole thing. Just kind of caught it out of the corner of my eye. Didn’t really love the hit from what I saw and wanted to make sure he knew I didn’t like it.”

Centre John Tavares added, “I didn’t see it, to be honest, super clean. But don’t like anything high, that’s for sure, and I know our bench didn’t like it. Not an easy thing by Bobby to get in there and stand up for Laughty, so that was a hell of a job by him.”

Laughton’s Condition

Scott Laughton, who sustained a lower-body injury during training camp, had just returned to regular season play this Wednesday before the hit sidelined him again.

Summary

The hit from Nikita Zadorov on Scott Laughton sparked strong reactions from coaches and players, with concerns about head contact and Laughton's injury status.

Author’s note: The incident highlights the ongoing intensity and physicality of NHL play and its impact on player availability.

TSN — 2025-11-09