Matthews will miss his second game since aggravating the injury.
Auston Matthews will miss his second consecutive game with a lingering upper-body injury, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed on Monday.
"He's going to rest here over the break and hope he comes back in a lot better shape," Berube said of his captain.
Matthews missed Saturday’s 6-3 loss against the New York Islanders after aggravating the ailment when he was cross-checked in the ribs area by Buffalo Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert in Toronto’s 6-3 win against the club on Friday.
"He gets relief but he's not going to go (today), Berube said of Matthews.
When asked about the player's status for Toronto's following game on Dec. 27 against Detroit, Berube was non-committal.
'Well I got to see how he responds here for the next few days.'
The Maple Leafs’ captain was revealed to have the injury on Nov. 5. Although the club initially listed it as day-to-day, the injury persisted, leading Matthews to seek specialized treatment in Germany.
Despite his return to the lineup on November 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he contributed two assists in a 5-3 victory, Matthews’ performance has been below his usual standards. In 11 games since his initial return, he had six goals and six assists.
Berube acknowledged Matthews’ ongoing struggles on Friday, noting that while he is “fighting through it” and contributing on the ice, the team must manage his condition carefully. Berube emphasized the importance of balancing Matthews’ desire to play with the need for full recovery, stating, “We just got to manage it. It’ll get better.”
The NHL’s leader in goals scored for three of the past four seasons, Matthews has 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games this season.
The Leafs will have a couple of "game-time decisions" for their game against the Winnipeg Jets in their matinee contest. Berube wouldn't reveal who might sit out. Joseph Woll will start in goal with Dennis Hildeby backing him up.