Injury Update on Auston Matthews
In a development that could impact the Toronto Maple Leafs current campaign, head coach Craig Berube announced on Thursday that star player Auston Matthews is likely to be sidelined for an entire week due to a lower-body injury. This announcement came after Matthews was hurt during the second period of the recent match against the Boston Bruins, where he sustained the injury following a check from Nikita Zadorov, a defenseman for Boston.
Game Incident and Coach’s Remarks
Matthews attempted to retaliate immediately after the hit but subsequently did not return for the remainder of the game, leaving the bench during a TV timeout. Berube expressed his hope that Matthews might recover quicker than expected, perhaps returning even in a few days, but he cautioned that the timeframe could stretch to a full week.
“[Matthews] may be back sooner [than a week]. It’s one of those things where he could come in a couple of days from now feeling a lot better. We’re hopeful he’s good to go, but we’ll see. It could be as long as a week,” said Berube.
This injury marks the first time this season that Matthews, who has been essential to the team’s scoring with nine goals and 14 points in 17 games, will miss play due to injury. Last season, he faced a much longer absence of 15 games, forcing the team to adopt a similar ‘next-man-up’ approach. Berube remarked on the necessity for the team to step up and enhance their overall game in Matthews’ absence, stating,
“Guys get a bigger bite here, a bigger role. We need a better team game.”
Controversial Hit and Goaltending Situation
The incident was contentious, as no penalty was awarded for Zadorov’s hit, which Berube disagreed with, stating,
“I think it’s a penalty, personally. I don’t like it; I don’t like the hit. [Matthews] was in a vulnerable position.”
In addition to Matthews, goaltender Anthony Stolarz left the game after the first period, during which he allowed three goals on just ten shots. However, Berube later indicated that Stolarz’s condition does not appear serious, categorizing his status as day-to-day. Stolarz currently has a record of 6-5-1, with a save percentage of .884 and a goals-against average of 3.51 this season.
Upcoming Game Preparations
As the Leafs prepare to face the Los Angeles Kings later today, Dennis Hildeby is set to take over as starting goalie. To support the goaltending situation, the club has also recalled Artur Akhtyamov from the American Hockey League and placed forward Scott Laughton on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury.
