As the NHL playoffs loom just around the corner, the Toronto Maple Leafs are faced with growing anxiety regarding the status of their key defenceman, Jake McCabe, who could be sidelined for more than just one game.

McCabe left the Maple Leafs’ thrilling 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers with an undisclosed injury, raising alarm bells just two weeks before the playoff push. His absence was notably felt during Friday's practice, where he did not participate, leading to speculation that he might miss additional critical games.

Head coach Craig Berube has approached the situation cautiously, labeling McCabe as “day-to-day,” yet it’s widely believed that this could translate into a more prolonged stay on the sidelines. The initial outlook suggests that he will definitely miss Saturday's home clash against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“I can’t really comment on how long it’s going to be,” Berube stated, leaving fans guessing about the severity of McCabe's injury. The defenceman collided with a linesman and absorbed a hit from the Panthers' Carter Verhaeghe before exiting the game late in the third period. Having previously suffered from a concussion earlier this season, the uncertainty surrounding McCabe’s condition comes as an additional concern for the team.

While Saturday's matchup against the Blue Jackets is not a divisional game, the implications of McCabe’s absence could ripple through the upcoming road games against strong opponents like Florida and Tampa Bay next week. These contests could be crucial for the Leafs as they aim to maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division.

Nonetheless, the Maple Leafs have shown resilience despite facing injuries to key players, including forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares, allowing others to step up in their absence. However, losing McCabe presents unique challenges given his crucial role as a shutdown defenceman in partnership with Chris Tanev, along with his physicality and leadership on the ice.

To fill McCabe’s spot in the lineup, Philippe Myers will enter the rotation after being inactive since March 10. The team's defensive setup is shifting as Berube plans to pair Tanev with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, adding further pressure on the Carlo-Rielly tandem to step up their performance.

It's important to note that McCabe has been logging close to 25 minutes of ice time per game while holding an impressive plus-23 rating this season. Additionally, centre David Kampf, who missed the third period in the recent game due to an upper-body injury, will also be absent for Saturday's matchup, which means that winger Nick Robertson will be taking his place in the lineup.

As for the Blue Jackets, they are reeling from their recent performance, having suffered a heavy defeat to the Colorado Avalanche, which has severely impacted their playoff aspirations. Columbus has had success against the Leafs this season, winning both previous encounters by a combined score of 11-3, although Toronto previously relied on backup goaltender Dennis Hildeby. This time around, Joseph Woll is anticipated to take the lead in net, battling for his position with Anthony Stolarz.

With all eyes on the unfolding drama surrounding McCabe's injury, Maple Leafs fans are left wondering: can the team cope without one of their major defensive stalwarts as they head into a pivotal part of the season? Only time will tell if they can weather this storm and forge ahead to a successful playoff run.