Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares (91)

12/23/2024 12:14 PM

The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t have Auston Matthews when they take on one of the league’s top teams.

Head coach Craig Berube told reporters that Matthews won’t be in the lineup for Monday’s matinee against the Winnipeg Jets. The Leafs coach also added that Matthews’ status for Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings was up in the air.

Matthews sat out a 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders after taking a cross-check to the back late in Friday’s victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

The 27-year-old did not participate in the team’s morning skate before playing against the Sabres and scoring a goal. However, Berube admitted that a cross-check from Sabres defenceman Dennis Gilbert had “aggravated” the undisclosed injury that Matthews has been dealing with.

The Leafs, who resume their schedule Dec. 27 in Detroit against the Red Wings, fell to 7-3-0 this season minus Matthews and 42-22-2 in games he has not played since he entered the league in 2016-17. 

Matthews missed nine games with an upper-body injury earlier this season and took a trip to Germany to receive treatment as part of his recovery.

—With files from the Canadian Press.