Why Auston Matthews won’t return to Maple Leafs lineup vs. Panthers: ‘Not a healing thing’
Why Auston Matthews won’t return to Maple Leafs lineup vs. Panthers: ‘Not a healing thing’
Matthews will miss his ninth straight game with a mysterious injury, but Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said "he's feeling good."
Auston Matthews will not return to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. His mysterious injury will keep him out for a ninth straight game.
“Matthews had a real good practice yesterday, but he’s been off a while. Getting into a full practice was really important. But I think both him and I and the organization feel like he needs a little bit more to be ready to go,” Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Wednesday.
The Leafs had targeted Wednesday’s game as a possible return date for Matthews, heightening anticipation surrounding the two-time 60-goal scorer.
But instead, patience appears to be a priority. The Leafs seem intent on getting his stamina back to a place that will benefit him during game action. The Leafs’ next game is Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.