The Maple Leafs were once again without captain Auston Matthews, who missed his 10th game of the season Saturday against the New York Islanders. Matthews took a cross-check against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, and aggravated his mysterious upper-body injury. While the team’s medical staff searches for answers on how to treat Matthews properly moving forward, it’s becoming quite obvious head coach Craig Berube won’t be the one providing detailed medical updates.
Berube spoke to reporters on Matthews’ status after the Leafs’ 6-3 loss to the Islanders.
“I’m not a doctor. I can’t answer that question,” Berube said post-game when asked for an update on Matthews. “I’m hoping here with the break coming up, he can get some relief, feel better, be ready to go, recharge. That’s all I can say about that.”
The Maple Leafs host the Winnipeg Jets for an afternoon affair on Monday and then don’t play again until Dec.27, when they head back to Detroit to take on the Red Wings. It appears unlikely that Matthews will play against the Jets.
Here’s how Matthews re-aggravated the injury, after taking a cross-check from Sabres defenceman Dennis Gilbert
Tavares gets a glove on Gilbert after his crosscheck on Matthews pic.twitter.com/k5BwDHalFp
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) December 21, 2024
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Matthews has 11 goals and 23 points in 24 games this season. It’s important for Berube and company to manage his injury troubles to ensure he’s 100 percent healthy heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s obvious that Matthews is a huge part of this team, and while the team is 7-3-0 without him in 2024-25, his teammates want him back in the lineup, as soon as possible.
“Obviously any time you’re missing Auston Matthews, you miss him every single night,” John Tavares said post-game. “Everyone has to step up a little bit, no one replaces him, and go out there and do your job as a group, with the identity we want to play with.”
“He’s just doing everything he can to help this team. His main goal each and every single day is to want to be at his best. Be a driver, be a difference maker. He’s an elite player, and obviously the leader that he is. I know it’s very tough on him to miss games.”
Joseph Woll stopped 28 of 33 shots against the Islanders, and was also asked post-game if there’s any concern around the team with Matthews missing almost a third of the season so far.
“I don’t know if it’s so much concern. You know, he’s the best player in the world.”
“It definitely hurts when you don’t have him, but, at the same time, I think our team has shown we can rise to the occasion, and play, regardless of who is in the lineup.”
While Matthews has been battling his upper-body injury, William Nylander has been a force up front for the Maple Leafs. Nylander scored twice against the Islanders, and leads Toronto with 23 goals in 34 games, eight clear of any other Maple Leaf. Nylander is more than capable of carrying the load while Matthews is unavailable, but he’d much prefer having his captain in the lineup.
“Yeah, obviously you want him playing and feeling good,” Nylander said post-game. “Whenever he’s back and ready to go, I don’t know when that is, so hopefully it’s soon.”
Berube made it clear he’s not providing medical reports or updates from meetings with team doctors as Matthews navigates his ailment, and the Maple Leafs will have to march forward, awaiting the next update on his status with a few games to close out the 2024 calendar year.