Unfortunate Update From Craig Berube Regarding Auston Matthews' Injury Status
Craig Berube gave Maple Leafs fans an update regarding Auston Matthews and it's not the kind of news that fans want to hear from their head coach.
It's been over a week since Auston Matthews has been out with an undisclosed upper-body injury, and while we don't know the extent, we know it's not his previous wrist issues acting up. While Toronto has done well in his absence they would surely like their captain and the NHL's best goal-scorer back on the ice.
But according to TSN's Mark Masters per his X account, Matthews is progressing fine but there's no timetable yet for when he is set to hit the ice:
The Road To Recovery For Auston Matthews
It's both a blessing and a curse for the Maple Leafs. The impact Matthews makes on the ice is undeniable and Toronto, for as good as they are, cannot afford too many more games without their captain. On the other hand, Toronto's other stars have stepped up in response, showing that perhaps Matthews could be relied on less to contribute offensively.
Before he went down with his injury, Matthews had a slower start than usual, only scoring five goals and being given more responsibilities while he was on the ice. But he also could have been dealing with this undisclosed issue and it's affected his performance; we'll never truly know.
But it's not the end of the world for the Maple Leafs. While they had a brutal display against the Ottawa Senators, they bounced back with a heroic 4-3 OT win against the dominant Washington Capitals. It was proof that the team both struggles and thrives with Matthews out of the lineup.
Looking Ahead To Edmonton
As Toronto heads into Edmonton without Matthews, here's how they look:
You'll notice the absence of Max Domi, who is taking his second maintenance day in a week, as speculation builds around whether or not he too has an injury. However, Craig Berube was quick to dispel any rumors about his forward and a potential ailment:
So as Toronto faces off with Edmonton they at least have one of their players able to play and it's nothing serious. While Domi hasn't done much this season, Toronto needs all the firepower they can get as they try to contain Connor McDavid: The NHL's latest 1000-point player.
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