Auston Matthews injury: Insider provides concerning update on Maple Leafs captain's availability against NY Islanders

By Jackson Weber

Modified Dec 21, 2024 19:01 GMT

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Reports surfaced this afternoon that Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will miss tonight's game against the New York Islanders. The superstar scored one goal and played 19:18 minutes in Friday night's 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Matthews was on the receiving end of two heavy body checks, as well as a hard cross-check to the ribs.

However, the update suggests that Matthews will miss tonight's game due to the reaggravation of a previous injury that sidelined him for nine games in November.

TSN NHL insider Chris Johnston wrote on X:

"Hearing that Auston Matthews won't be available to the #leafs tonight after reaggravating the injury that kept him out of games in November. He's considered questionable for Monday's game."

Toronto had no issues without its captain during his first stint on the injured reserve list going 7-2-0 in the process. We'll have to wait to see whether Matthews' injury is short or long-term, as Johnston mentioned he's considered questionable for the Leafs matchup on Monday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Auston Matthews has been dealing with nagging injury all season

Auston Matthews' 2024-25 campaign has not gone according to plan. He began the regular season playing through an injury that had been nagging him since training camp. The Leafs captain then took nine games off to rest and recover hoping to move past whatever was ailing him.

Since returning on Nov. 30, Matthews has played in 11 games, scoring at over a point-per-game pace with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in that span. He's now up to 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games on the season, low numbers for a player of his caliber. This makes you wonder how much of an effect the injury has had on Matthews' production.

Maple Leafs fans and the hockey world had their antennas up after head coach Craig Berube's comments on his captain before the win over Buffalo.

"It's tough,” Berube said. “He's fighting through it, and he's doing a pretty good job out there on the ice. He's producing and playing hard and working, and we just gotta manage it. It'll get better. We just gotta manage it. And that's why he's off the ice today."

The Leafs will once again take the ice without their captain tonight when they host the New York Islanders in the second half of a back-to-back. The puck drops at 7 p.m. EST at Scotiabank Arena.