Foligno has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury but is expected to play in Ottawa on Wednesday. Foligno was originally listed as a game-time decision on Tuesday but reportedly responded well after yesterday's practice. He skated with John Tavares and William Nylander in practice but has played primarily with Auston Matthew and Mitch Marner to this point, so it's unclear who he will skate with tonight.
Foligno was hurt midway through Monday's game in Montreal and will not play Thursday and will likely miss Saturday's game as well. With Foligno out, Joe Thornton moved up to the top line in Wednesday's practice.
The Maple Leafs will rest a couple of players on Thursday, Nick Foligno being one of them. Pierre Engvall will re-enter the lineup to replace Foligno.
Foligno was acquired from the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline and will suit up Thursday in Winnipeg. Foligno is not the same offensive presence he was in 2015 but could pack a bit of a punch on Thursday, as he debuts on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Foligno, who was the Blue Jackets' captain, is known for being a great leader who plays a very reliable two-way game. At age-33, Foligno doesn't offer much in the way of offence anymore but will stabilize the Maple Leafs' middle-6 and can move up the lineup in a pinch. He has seven goals and nine assists (16 points) in 42 games this season. The Blue Jackets are retaining 50 percent of his contract and the Sharks are retaining 25 percent in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick.
The Blue Jackets continue to get hit hard by injuries and on Saturday they'll be without their captain. Foligno's name has been swirling on the trade market, so perhaps this is more "asset management" than "upper-body injury."
Foligno will replace Riley Nash in his return to the lineup and will look to get things going offensively. Foligno has scored just one goal with six assists in 17 games this season.
Foligno left the Blue Jackets after the team’s December 30th practice as his 5-year-old daughter was scheduled to undergo a heart procedure a day later in Boston. The family didn’t return to Columbus until Tuesday. Foligno returns after missing four games with 20 points (10G / 10A) in 37 contests.
Foligno missed Saturday’s game in Carolina to tend to a family matter, but is expected to replace Oliver Bjorkstrand in the Blue Jackets lineup in Toronto. Foligno has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 19 games this season.
Foligno will be scratched on Saturday, but Artemi Panarin and Riley Nash are expected to be back in the Blue Jackets lineup after missing Thursday’s game with illness. Expect Foligno to be back in the lineup in Toronto on Monday.
Foligno missed the final six games of the regular season, but was on the ice for Monday’s practice and is expected to be in for Game 1 against the Capitals. Foligno, who finished the season with 15 goals and 18 assists (33 points) in 72 games, will centre a line with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Josh Anderson on his wings.
Foligno finished Saturday’s game against the Blues, so there’s no word on when the Blue Jackets’ captain sustained the injury. The timing could not be worse for Foligno, as Columbus has been red-hot and this injury could force him to miss the start of the playoffs. He has picked up one goal and five assists (six points) in his last seven games.
