Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev exits game vs. Bruins with upper-body injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs have an injury concern with a key defenceman.

Chris Tanev exited Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins early in the first period with an upper-body injury after he was hit by John Beecher while playing the puck in the Leafs end.

Tanev skated slowly back to the bench and then went to the dressing room. He was ruled out before the second period, finishing the game with just 49 seconds of ice time.

The Toronto native has two goals and 15 assists and is a team-best plus-27 in 57 games this season.

Tanev, 35, signed a six-year, $27-million deal with his hometown team prior to this season after Toronto acquired his rights in a deal with the Dallas Stars in late June.

The undrafted Tanev is in his 15th NHL season. He has played for the Leafs, Stars, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.