Maple Leafs' Peca helped off ice with serious right knee injury

CHICAGO -- Toronto center Michael Peca seriously injured his right knee in the first period of the Maple Leafs' 3-1 loss to Chicago on Friday night and had to be helped from the ice.

Peca collided with Chicago defenseman Jim Vandermeer in the Toronto zone with 5:17 left in the first. Vandermeer received a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct.

"He's in quite a bit of pain," Toronto coach Paul Maurice said. 'We're not going to know until the doctors get a better look inside.

"This is not day-to-day," Maurice added. "It's a bad injury."

Peca left the Maple Leafs dressing room on crutches, wearing an air cast.

A 12-year veteran, Peca has four goals and 11 assists in 35 games this season.