In a significant blow to their playoff hopes, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be without their star captain Auston Matthews for their next game after he suffered an injury. Matthews was hospitalised and is listed as day-to-day following a lower-body issue sustained during Sunday's overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
How Did Auston Matthews Get Injured?
The injury occurred during the second period of the contest when Matthews blocked a shot. Demonstrating notable toughness, the centre spent only about a minute off the ice before returning to finish the game. However, the injury required further assessment post-game, leading to his hospitalisation. The team has confirmed that the 27-year-old will not play in Tuesday's home game against the New Jersey Devils.
Maple Leafs' Deepening Injury Crisis
Matthews' absence exacerbates an already challenging injury situation for the struggling franchise. The team's blue line is missing veteran defenseman Chris Tanev, who is out with a lower-body problem. This marks Tanev's second lengthy absence this season, having already missed at least 23 games earlier with an upper-body injury.
Furthermore, centre Dakota Joshua is also sidelined. Joshua is undergoing treatment for a kidney trauma suffered in the same game against the Red Wings, depleting the team's forward depth.
Call-Ups and Matthews' Impact This Season
To address the gaps in the lineup, the Maple Leafs have summoned two players from their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Jacob Quillan has been one of the Marlies' top performers this season, leading the team in scoring while playing a reliable two-way game. They have also called up Matt Benning, a veteran defenseman with over 460 games of NHL experience, to provide depth on the blue line.
Matthews' loss is immense for a team fighting to climb the standings. This season, in 33 games, the captain has recorded 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points. He ranks second on the team in goals and faceoff wins, and fourth in overall points. His offensive production is critical for a Maple Leafs squad that sits last in the competitive Atlantic Division, though they remain just four points out of a playoff spot as they enter a tough stretch of games.
