Toronto forward Max Pacioretty has been ruled out for the Maple Leafs' game Monday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning because of an upper-body injury.

Matthew Knies joins a long list of injured Leafs that has had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the lineup.

Max Pacioretty was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to Jan. 18. That means he cannot return until at least after Saturday's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.

Pacioretty has five goals and seven assists in 32 games this season. He's games away from unlocking the final games-played bonus in his one-year deal.

Toronto forward Max Pacioretty has been ruled out for the Maple Leafs' game Monday night against the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning because of an upper-body injury.

“Noise is noise, every building can be quiet or loud. Home or road, energy is energy, so the louder the building, the more guys get up for it. It can be quiet at times going through a rough patch, but when the building is rocking — it could be booing you at an away rink or your fans trying to lift your spirits — we feed off that energy.”

Ryan Reaves finally got his first fight of the year in, obliged by a very tough customer in Columbus’s Mathieu Olivier. Reaves, who turned 38 this week, did not speak after the game, but Matthews didn’t mind some pointed commentary about the scrap.

Matthew Knies was injured in the second period of Toronto's game Wednesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Knies struggled to get up from the ice after colliding with Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko and did not return to the game. Knies was ruled out with what the Maple Leafs called an upper-body injury.

Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Cooper knows the Toronto Maple Leafs well. He thinks new coach Craig Berube has had a massive influence on the Leafs squad.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday (Jan. 22). Despite dictating the pace for most of the matchup, the Leafs didn’t capitalize on their chances, and some defensive lapses resulted in deflating goals against them.

Whatever it is the Leafs think of their team, they can’t overlook the apparent fragility at the top of their lineup. When all the buyers take that inevitable step forward at the deadline, the Leafs need to make a healthy leap.