Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews out for Saturday’s game vs. Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Auston Matthews will not play in Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston.
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.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 21, 2024
“Hearing that Auston Matthews won’t be available to the #leafs tonight after reaggravating the injury that kept him out of games in November,” Johnston said on social media. “He’s considered questionable for Monday’s game.”
Through 24 games this season, Matthews has 11 goals and 12 assists for 23 points. He scored in the Leafs’ 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Auston Matthews makes no mistake from there 🚨
📺: @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm pic.twitter.com/aR5bn79wE7
— NHL (@NHL) December 21, 2024
Matthews missed nine games between Nov. 5 and 27 with an undisclosed injury. During those three weeks, the Leafs’ captain visited Germany to see a doctor for whatever was ailing him.
Since returning Nov. 30, Matthews has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 11 games.
Matthews is coming off a 69-goal season in 2023-24, the most goals in a single season since Mario Lemieux scored the same amount in 1995-96. It was the third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy of his career, having also won the award in 2021-22 and 2020-21. Matthews also won the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2021-22.
Matthews, 27, has 379 goals and 293 assists for 672 points in 586 career regular-season games in nine NHL seasons. Matthews also has 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in 55 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Leafs are 21-10-2 with 44 points, leading the Atlantic Division. They’ve won three straight games and are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.