Elliotte Friedman reports on Leafs' level of panic for "NHL's most secretive about injury information" Auston Matthews' recent injury

By Abhilasha Aditi

Modified Nov 14, 2024 06:37 GMT

Elliotte Friedman provided details about Auston Matthews' upper-body injury, which has kept him off the ice for the fifth straight game. Matthews hasn't skated since Saturday and missed Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals. His absence will stretch to six games, and it’s unclear if he will play on Saturday against the Oilers.

What stands out is Auston Matthews' secrecy about his injury. Friedman noted that Matthews is known for keeping his health details private. The Leafs, already cautious with injury information, follow Matthews’ lead in staying tight-lipped.

"Don’t think there is a player in the NHL more secretive about injury information than Auston Matthews. We didn’t find out about one of his wrist surgeries for a year. So, as guarded as the Maple Leafs can be, it will be even tighter because Matthews wants it that way," Friedman (via 32-thoughts).

Despite the limited information about Matthews' injury, Friedman says the Leafs are not panicking. They feel confident in their depth, especially with other injured players like Calle Jarnkrok.

Toronto seems secure because they have extra players available during Matthews' absence. With only five games in the next two weeks, the team has enough time to get Auston Matthews back into practice before he returns.

Maple Leafs defeated Capitals 4-3 in Auston Matthews' absence

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime, despite being without Captain Auston Matthews. John Tavares scored the game-winner with 47 seconds left, breaking away after Mitch Marner cleared the puck down the ice.

William Nylander and Mitch Marner both scored late in the third period to force overtime. Nylander tapped in a rebound from Matthew Knies’ drive to make it 3-2. With just 48 seconds left, Marner tied it on a one-timer from Morgan Rielly during a 6-on-4 power play.

The Capitals had a strong start, going up 1-0 after Taylor Raddysh’s pass deflected off Toronto’s Max Domi. Toronto responded when Bobby McMann scored with help from Tavares. Washington regained the lead with Dylan Strome’s goal late in the first period. Aliaksei Protas made it 3-1 in the second period on a cross-ice pass from Rasmus Sandin after Alex Ovechkin’s blocked shot.

Toronto coach Craig Berube praised his players’ effort, especially their push in the third period.

“They just kept working,” Berube said per NHL.com, “I mean, we got behind, I get that, but I thought in the second period from the 10-minute mark on, we started to really press and do some real good things in the offensive zone and get some opportunities and it carried over in the third.”

Ovechkin missed the chance to score a goal and his goal record stands at 863.