COLLINGWOOD

Phil Kessel left the ice midway through Thursday’s Maple Leafs practice and it had nothing to do with his birthday.

Coach Randy Carlyle said after the hour-long workout to end the team’s three-day getaway that Kessel left with “a sore body part.”

“(The training staff) just said it was something stiff. I cannot describe what it was.”

The team didn’t seem overly concerned and Kessel did leave the rink without seeming to favour any parts of his body. But in a training camp that has had its share of injury woes for the Leafs, it certainly raised some eyebrows.

Continuing with the injury situation with the team, forward David Clarkson also left the ice once contact drills begin. Nursing a broken orbital bone from a scrap last Friday in Buffalo, Clarkson was sporting a full cage.

“Clarkson was planned that he wouldn’t participate,” Carlyle said. “He was out skating earlier. He took the skating drills and we are waiting to hear that he is cleared which we expect is going to happen tomorrow.

“That will be up to the player and the medical staff, but as of now he’s in the plan to possibly being available for tomorrow night.”

Earlier in the week, Clarkson said he hoped to play in Friday’s contest at the Air Canada Centre, the final of eight pre-season contests.

In another development, off-season acquisition Stephane Robidas took part in his first full practice with the team and was paired with captain Dion Phaneuf, where he is expected to be on opening night next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the hour-long practice was an up tempo affair with 27 players taking part, the most workable number Carlyle and the coaching staff have had to work with all training camp.

“We have conveyed the message to our players that this is the final opportunity of evaluation, it’s as simple as that,” Carlyle said of the mindset heading into the pre-season finale. “We are looking at some tough decisions.

“There have been some people that have been somewhat of a pleasant surprise for us and there are some young players that are pushing for opportunities. This is a little bit of a wakeup calll for some other people on our hockey club that have played here before.

“The seriousness of the games and the preparation is taking another step and it has to be ramped up.”

With opening night now six days away, lines in practice take on a more meaningful look. Here’s the lineup from Thursday:

James van Riemsdyk-Tyler Bozak-Phil Kessel (before leaving)

Josh Leivo-Nazem Kadri-Joffrey Lupul

Leo Komarov-Peter Holland-William Nylander

Daniel Winnick-Mike Santorelli-Brandon Kozun

And on defence:

Phaneuf-Robidas

Jake Gardiner-Roman Polak

Morgan Rielly-Korbinian Holzer.

Extra: Stuart Percy​