Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews to miss game Vs. Penguins with illness

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will miss tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with an illness.

The 26-year-old has 23 goals and 12 assists for 35 points in 27 games this season. His 23 goals rank him first league-wide, Matthews is currently on pace to hit 70 goals this season according to EliteProspects.

Back in August, the Maple Leafs signed Matthews to a four-year contract extension with a $13.25 million cap hit. He is in the final year of his current five-year contract with an $11,640,250 cap hit.

Matthews had 40 goals, 45 assists, and 85 points in just 74 games last season, with his 40 goals being the lowest he’s scored in a season where he played at least 70 games since his rookie season. Matthews also had five goals, and six assists for 11 points in 11 games in the playoffs, as the Maples Leafs secured their first playoff series victory since 2004 by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games before losing to the Florida Panthers in the second round in five games.\

The Scottsdale, Arizona product was selected No.1 overall in the 2016 NHL draft. He stepped into the league like a monster, scoring four goals in his NHL debut. He’s since developed into one of the best goal scorers in the NHL hitting the 30-goal mark in all seven seasons, the 40-goal mark in five, and the 60-goal mark once in 2021-22, when he also won the Hart Trophy.

Meanwhile, defenseman T.J. Brodie is also unavailable for tonight’s game as he is also out with the flu. Brodie has six assists in 27 games this season.

The Maple Leafs sit second in the Atlantic Division with a record of 15-6-6 and 36 points through 27 games.