Toronto Maple Leafs fans will have to wait a little longer to see their captain Auston Matthews back on the ice. The star player will be missing yet another game due to an injury, the team announced on Tuesday.
Matthews, who has been dealing with a nagging wrist injury, has already missed the last two games against the Edmonton Oilers. The team had hoped he would be able to return for Tuesday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks, but he is still not ready to play.
According to head coach Sheldon Keefe, Matthews is making progress in his recovery, but the team is taking a cautious approach to ensure he fully heals before returning to the game. “We want to make sure that when he comes back, he’s back for good,” Keefe said in a press conference.
The 23-year-old center has been a key player for the Maple Leafs this season, scoring 18 goals and 11 assists in just 20 games. His absence has been felt on the ice, with the team losing both games without him.
This is not the first time Matthews has dealt with an injury this season. He missed four games in February due to a wrist injury, but returned to the game with a brace on his wrist. However, the injury has continued to bother him, leading to his current absence.
The Maple Leafs have not provided a timeline for Matthews’ return, but the team is hopeful that he will be back in action soon. In the meantime, the team will have to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by their captain.
Despite Matthews’ absence, the Maple Leafs have been performing well this season, currently sitting at the top of the North Division with a record of 16-5-2. With or without their star player, the team remains focused on their goal of winning the Stanley Cup.
Fans will have to wait a little longer to see Matthews back on the ice, but the team is confident that he will return stronger and ready to lead them to victory.
