The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without one of their top players for Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Bruins. The team announced that Auston Matthews is out with an upper-body injury. This injury is considered day-to-day and the Leafs will hope it’s nothing more than that.
Maple Leafs F Auston Matthews is not available for tonight’s game and is day-to-day (upper body).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 5, 2024
Matthews Out Short-Term
The Maple Leafs aren’t a team with a lot of depth at the centre position. Without Matthews, Toronto’s next best centre to slot in on the top line is 34-year-old John Tavares, who is actually having a great season to his respect. It’s one thing to miss a key player like they have with William Nylander when he had the flu. But, it’s another thing when it’s your franchise player and first-line centreman. Also, this injury doesn’t come at an ideal time. The Leafs have four straight divisional games coming up and they need results. There isn’t much that separates the Leafs and their divisional rivals, including Boston who are just one point behind them. The Leafs are 35-19-2 without Matthews in the lineup.
It’s a delicate time for the Maple Leafs and coach Craig Berube will need other players to step up sooner rather than later.
The Captain’s Season So Far
Matthews has not had the start to the season he’s wanted by any means. While he has rounded out his game and has become a great two-way player, offensively he has not been the same. After 13 games this season, Matthews has five goals and 11 points. It’s a solid start but for the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, it’s nothing to write home about. There were suspicions about Matthews being hurt given his play on the ice. He hasn’t been nearly as dominant as he had in the past. He still gets some good opportunities, however, he’s been missing the net more often than usual and that’s not Matthews.
The Maple Leafs will hope to have their captain back soon.
Main Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images
