Auston Matthews will be sitting out the Toronto Maple Leafs’ preseason game tonight, but his absence is not causing much concern. The star forward, who scored 69 goals last season and is nearing 400 career goals, left practice with what head coach Craig Berube described as an “upper body thing.”
A video on Thursday showed Matthews conversing with the coach after an early on-ice session. Matthews later participated in the team’s optional skate.
Reports indicate Matthews’ issue is minor, referred to as “bumps and bruises” by TSN’s Chris Johnston. While Matthews is expected to be ready for the regular season, the Leafs are using this time to test different lineup combinations, with possible replacements like Max Domi and William Nylander.
Matthews Should Be Back For More Maple Leafs Preseason Games
Although Matthews is not expected to miss more games beyond tonight, Johnston emphasizes the importance of depth and flexibility in the lineup to accommodate potential absences of key players like Matthews.
With upcoming preseason games, Matthews has the opportunity to return to action before the season opener.
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