"Centre Tim Connolly insists he never hit his head when he flew face first into the end boards during Monday's practice.

But an "upper-body injury" will keep him out of the final two pre-season games on Friday and Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings — allowing him to be "hopefully" ready for the season opener on Oct. 6 against the Montreal Canadiens.

"Because of the speed. . . I was going full speed and hit a stick driving hard to the net. . . and flew directly into the boards," Connolly said after practice on Thursday at the MasterCard Centre.

"It definitely could have been worse.

"I was able to break. I just missed head first," said Connolly, who refused to reveal what part of his body was injured.

"It was a pretty hard hit. . . I was able to finish practice but it's better to error on the side of caution."

Connolly, 31, skated by himself for about 20 minutes Thursday under the watchful eye of strengthening coach Anthony Belza before the rest of the Maple Leafs took the ice for their practice. Then he hit the weight room."