The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Auston Matthews at least for a game.
Matthews suffered an injury in Toronto’s 5-3 road loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs captain got injured on a hit from Nikita Zadorov, which head coach Craig Berube felt was dirty.
Matthews left that game during the second period and did not return. The team didn’t have much of an update, but NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that Matthews won’t play on Thursday and is expected to miss multiple games.
“In Matthews’ case, it doesn’t sound like it’s anything too serious,” Johnston said on the Chris Johnston Show on Thursday. “Don’t have any concrete timelines, but the expectation that I’ve been given is that I wouldn’t expect him on Thursday when the Leafs host LA. They go to Chicago on Saturday, and don’t know if he will be able to get in there. I don’t think for Auston Matthews this is a long-term injury situation. Obviously, a good thing.”
Matthews’ being out is a big blow to the Maple Leafs, as Toronto is off to a slow start. However, the good news is that Johnston doesn’t believe the injury is serious or considered long-term.
Matthews has recorded 9 goals and 5 assists for 14 points in 17 games this season.
Maple Leafs Coach Wasn’t Happy About Hit on Matthews
Matthews was hit from behind by Zadorov, but no penalty was called.
After the game, Berube wasn’t thrilled with the no-call and felt like it was a pretty dirty hit.
“I think it is a penalty, personally. But I am not the referee,” Berube said. “I don’t like it. I don’t like the hit. He was in a vulnerable position. There is nothing I can do about it.”
The Maple Leafs coach, meanwhile, didn’t have much of an injury update on the superstar forward after Tuesday’s game.
“We’ll see tomorrow. Right now, it is lower-body. We will just see tomorrow how he is,” Berube said. “I don’t know exactly. I really can’t give you guys a timeline or tell you how serious it is right now. I’m not sure when he got hurt, to be honest with you.”
Matthews is in the second year of his four-year, $53 million deal with the Maple Leafs.
Toronto is Facing ‘Next-man-up Mentality’
Along with Matthews, forward Scott Laughton is also injured, along with defenseman Chris Tanev and goalie Anthony Stolarz.
The Maple Leafs getting hit by the injury bug comes at a poor time, as Toronto is digging itself a hole in the standings. But, forward Max Domi said the message to the team is just next-man-up.
“It’s adversity, for sure,” Domi said. “Every guy in here is champing at the bit. Everyone wants an opportunity — and here’s our opportunity. Everyone’s got to step up. Next-man-up mentality. And we’re not going to focus on anything other than the next game and the task at hand.
“Everyone’s got to bring their best. And every game from here on out is like a playoff game, and we’re going to need that kind of intensity, day in, day out.”
The Maple Leafs will host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
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