Maple Leafs News: Auston Matthews To Miss More Time

Bad news on the injury front for the Toronto Maple Leafs as the team has learned that Auston Matthews will not make his return to the lineup this week as hoped, at least for Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators and likely Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.

The Leafs' captain has been held off the ice for the second consecutive day.

We haven't seen Auston Matthews on the ice the last two days

Any setback?

Craig Berube: "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 & 100 per cent." @TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 12, 2024

He was placed on injured reserve last week after an undisclosed upper-body injury kept him out of their game against the Boston Bruins one week ago. The Buds, as it has been well-documented, have done just fine without Matthews, winning three straight and outscoring their opponents 11-2.

In addition, the once-moribund power play has surprisingly come to life without the captain, going 7-for-13 in his absence.

Head coach Craig Berube says he's not concerned, and it wasn't a "setback", so to speak.

"No, not really. It's just not getting to where it needs to get to," Berube said after Toronto's morning skate. "So we're just trying to manage it, you know. Just trying to make sure when it comes back, he's good and 100 percent."

Matthews had five goals and six assists for 11 points in 13 games in a relatively slow start to the season.

The Buds called up Alex Steeves from the AHL's Marlies on an emergency basis as an extra forward.

Connor Dewar is set to make his season debut, while in other team news, Matt Benning has cleared waivers and has been assigned to the Marlies.