Auston Matthews’ injury woes continue to haunt the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the captain missed both Friday’s practice and Saturday’s loss to the New York Islanders. After previously recovering from an injury, Matthews’ problems resurfaced over the weekend, forcing him out of action after playing 11 consecutive games. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed that Matthews re-aggravated the upper-body injury that had previously sidelined him for nine games, leaving uncertainty about the injury’s long-term effects. “I’m not a doctor, so I can’t provide a clear answer,” Berube said regarding concerns about Matthews’ condition. “I’m hoping the upcoming break will give him some relief, allowing him to feel better and be ready to go.”
The setback occurred during Friday’s 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres, where Matthews scored his 11th goal of the season but appeared to be in pain after a cross-check from Dennis Gilbert. The Maple Leafs are taking a cautious approach with Matthews’ return, leaving his status for Monday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets uncertain. However, with Toronto not playing again until Friday, the captain has nearly a week to recover and only one game to miss.
Matthews had seen a specialist in Germany during his previous absence and has missed 10 games of Toronto’s 34 this season, recording 23 points in 24 appearances. Despite Matthews’ limited availability, the Maple Leafs managed a strong 7-2-0 record in November without him. Yet, they struggled on Saturday in a high-scoring loss, where they never managed to get closer than 3-2. The Leafs are currently leading the Atlantic Division with a 21-11-2 record and 44 points, though they still trail the Washington Capitals (46 points) and the New Jersey Devils (47) in the battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
