Chris Tanev might not have been hurt as badly as feared for a man who left TD Garden with his arm in a sling on Tuesday night. While the Toronto’s best all-around defenceman and shot-blocker was not at practice Wednesday afternoon in Boston,

In Tanev’s absence, righty Philippe Myers will jump into the lineup, while veterans Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson will be leaned on more heavily, as they were in Tuesday’s rollicking 5-4 comeback win over the Bruins.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Christ Tanev is out injured day-to-day and is unlikely to play on Friday against the New York Rangers.  Speaking to the media following practice on Wednesday, head coach Craig Berube told reporters the 35-year-old right-handed blueliner is likely unavailable for the matchup at Madison Square Garden.

Yet the mood around the Leafs dressing room sunk a little lower than expected following a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins as Chris Tanev walked out with his right arm in a sling. The Leafs’ top defenceman took a hit from Bruins centre Pavel Zacha in his second shift of the game and did not return.