The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a challenging period as their captain, Auston Matthews, is set to miss at least two upcoming games due to an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old center has already been absent for the last two matches, including a recent game against the Detroit Red Wings, and is expected to sit out the home game against the Washington Capitals as well. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube mentioned that while Matthews is 'doing better,' no specific details about the injury were disclosed, with another update anticipated soon.
Matthews last appeared on the ice during a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, where he managed to score a goal within 19 minutes of play, despite enduring significant hits, including a cross-check from Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert. This season has been challenging for Matthews, as he has missed 11 out of 35 games, including nine in November due to a prior upper-body issue, which Berube hinted is somewhat related to his current condition.
Despite his injury woes, Matthews has accumulated 23 points this season, comprising 11 goals and 12 assists, ranking fourth on the team. He is known for his prolific scoring ability, having led the NHL with a record 69 goals last season and aiming for his sixth consecutive 40-goal season. Since being drafted first overall by the Maple Leafs in 2016, Matthews has scored the most goals in the league, totaling 379. Notably, the Maple Leafs have a strong track record in games without Matthews, winning seven out of nine earlier this season and boasting an all-time record of 42 wins against 22 losses in his absence.
