Jonas Gustavsson Needs Heart Procedure

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up an impressive win over Montreal Tuesday night. The 3-0 shutout, however, did not come without a scare.

Goalie Jonas Gustavsson left the game after the first period, and he was hospitalized with an elevated heartbeat. It turns out that Gustavsson needs a second procedure on his heart in less than three months, and he will miss some time because of it.

The news isn't nearly as bad as it might sound. David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail says Gustavsson will only miss around a week, and the prognosis for success with this procedure is pretty good.

... according to a doctor who wished to remain anonymous, just because Gustavsson needs a second ablation does not mean his heart problem is serious. An ablation is a tricky procedure and it is not uncommon for the surgeon to miss the spot that needs to be fixed, which means the problem will come up again.

The good news, the doctor said, is that hitting the right spot the second time around is easier because of the knowledge gained from the first attempt. The success rate for the first ablation is 80 to 90 per cent and is even higher for a second one, the doctor said.

Shoalts cites the same doctor as saying the need for multiple procedures like this one should not jeopardize Gustavsson's hockey career.

Joey MacDonald will start in goal for Toronto on Thursday, but they may have Vesa Toskala back when they play Boston on Saturday.