Matthews out vs. Islanders after re-aggravating injury
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews missed Saturday's 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders after re-aggravating the upper-body injury that previously held him out nine games this season, head coach Craig Berube announced, per The Leafs Nation's Arun Srinivasan.
Matthews remains questionable for Monday's clash against the Winnipeg Jets, Berube added. The Maple are off until Dec. 27 afterward.
Berube noted before Friday's matchup with the Buffalo Sabres that Matthews is still fighting through the unspecified ailment. Matthews, who scored his 11th goal of the season in the first period, took a hard hit from Tage Thompson in the victory and got up gingerly from a cross-check late in the third.
Tage Thompson SITS DOWN Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly takes exception 😱👊 pic.twitter.com/MPKUgvF24a
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 21, 2024
Tavares gets a glove on Gilbert after his crosscheck on Matthews pic.twitter.com/k5BwDHalFp
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 21, 2024
Matthews visited a specialist in Germany during his previous injury absence. The issue initially started in the preseason and doesn't require surgery.
The 27-year-old, who's in the first year of a four-year, $53-million contract, notched 12 points in 11 games in between absences. He's notched 23 points in 24 games for the season.
The Maple Leafs went 7-2-0 without Matthews in November.