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Auston Matthews hasn't been on the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs for a little while, missing some practice and the last three games the team has played with an upper-body injury. Will the captain be back out there tonight for the matchup with the Ottawa Senators?
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It looks like the answer is no. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube says the team is still taking its time with Matthews. He hasn't been on the ice very much at all recently, and he was asked if that was a setback. He said:
"Not really. It's just not getting to where it needs to get to, so we're just trying to manage it. Just trying to make sure when he comes back he's good and 100%."
The Maple Leafs have largely withstood the absence of their captain. They're undefeated in his three missed games, defeating the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens.
NHL insider Chris Johnston had recently said that it is likely that the Maple Leafs captain returns this Saturday for his team's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Maple Leafs staff discusses Auston Matthews injury
Before determining whether or not Auston Matthews would even play today, both GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube opened up on the situation. Both of them wanted to get in front of this and make sure it doesn't become a reoccurring issue.
Treliving said via Athlon Sports:
"We just want to make sure we get ahead of it and hopefully get it behind us once and for all."
On the other hand, Berube admitted that Matthews' current ailment can be traced back to the preseason:
“We’re all trying to figure it out and work on it and make sure we get him back and this thing doesn’t occur again over the course of the year. It’s not something you want lingering on throughout the season, so we’re trying to do our best to not allow that to happen.”
Matthews has 11 points in 13 games played this season. Overall, the Maple Leafs are 9-5-2 and in second in the Atlantic Division behind the Florida Panthers, the team who won the Stanley Cup Final last year.
