separation on March 6 that necessitated immediate season-ending surgery. Nonetheless, he finished with a career-high of 67 points on the year despite playing in just 66 games, marking the first time in his NHL career he scored at least a point-per-game pace. At the end of the season, Lupul was a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy—awarded annually to the NHL player best exemplifying qualities in perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey—which was ultimately awarded to Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens. During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Lupul played for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)'s Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in Yekaterinburg, Russia. After the lockout was resolved and just prior to the start of the truncated 2012–13 season, Lupul, along with teammate Clarke MacArthur, was named an alternate captain of the Maple Leafs under captain Dion Phaneuf. Days later, on January 20, 2013, Lupul signed a five-year, US$26.25 million contract extension with Toronto. Only three games into the season, Lupul fractured his right forearm when he was hit by a Phaneuf slapshot while screening opposing goaltender Marc-André Fleury in a game against Pittsburgh. Lupul subsequently missed 25 games. In his return to the ice on March 16, he scored on his first shift of the night and once again in the second period of the game. However, the Maple Leafs went on to lose the game in a ten-round shootout to the Winnipeg Jets. Rejuvenated in his return after a long absence, Lupul scored goals in six consecutive games and recorded points in a prolific rate—eight goals and six assists in six games—before he suffered another injury in a game against his former club, the Flyers. While chasing the puck deep in his own zone, Lupul was hit by two Flyers simultaneously, one of which accidentally contacted his head, resulting in a concussion. He would miss an additional two weeks before making his return on April 16 against Washington. Lupul finished the season with totals of 18 points in 16 games. With 57 points gained in 48 games, the Maple Leafs qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2004. During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins, Lupul scored two goals to help propel the Leafs to a 4–2 win and even the series at one game apiece. He would score again in Game 4 at the Air Canada Centre when he scored the game's