Auston Matthews will miss his sixth straight game when the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. Head coach Craig Berube addressed the situation on Friday, confirming Matthews’ forthcoming absence but noting that the captain’s recuperation is progressing but would take time.
“No setbacks,” Berube told reporters on Friday. “We’ve got two games in a long stretch of time. So we’re letting him recover. “We want to get him 100 percent, we want to get him behind this, so he can move forward and we can move forward,” Berube added, via The Athletic.
According to The Athletic, Matthews’s injury “first popped up during training camp,” which could explain his slower-than-expected start to the season.
Despite setting career highs of 69 goals and 107 points last year, Matthews has only managed 5 goals and 11 points in 13 games before being shelved, putting him on track for 69 points in 82 games.
TSN’s Chris Johnston and Darren Dreger echoed Berube’s cautious optimism, adding a bit more information about the situation of late.
Johnston noted on TSN’s Insider Trading that Matthews’ recovery is “progressing in a positive direction” and highlighted the team’s focus on ensuring he returns fully healed.
“This rest period will basically eliminate the issue entirely for Matthews,” Johnston said. Meanwhile, Dreger reported on X that Matthews “won’t be available” against the Oilers noting the Leafs’ schedule as the main reason the franchise will keep him out.
Auston Matthews will not be available for tomorrow’s game against the Oilers. Given the Leafs’ schedule, the extra time off coincides with Toronto’s desire to get their captain fully healed.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger), November 15, 2024.
Toronto will only play two games in the next 13 days, which they will take advantage of by giving Matthews more healing time and not rushing him back.
“Would I like him back? Yeah, for sure,” Berube said. “But it is what it is. We just gotta keep moving on without him right now.”
With the Leafs going 4-1 in Matthews’ absence, it’s safe to conclude this is the correct option because the club hasn’t missed him that much.
