'I Can't Give You Anything More Than That': Maple Leafs Rule Auston Matthews Out For Both Games This Weekend Against Red Wings And Capitals Due To Upper-Body Injury

Matthews hasn't been in Toronto's lineup since their 6-3 win over the Sabres on Dec. 20.

Auston Matthews wasn't on the ice during the Toronto Maple Leafs' full morning skate inside Little Caesars Arena on Friday morning and will not be in the lineup when the club takes on the Detroit Red Wings.

The 27-year-old forward has missed Toronto's last two games — both losses to the New York Islanders and Winnipeg Jets — after re-aggravating a previous upper-body injury from earlier in the season.

"He's going to rest here over the break and hope he comes back in a lot better shape," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Monday about Matthews.

With the forward out of the lineup, the Maple Leafs have elected to put Pontus Holmberg in Matthews' spot, centering Matthew Knies and William Nylander on the second line.

"He's doing better, so we'll update you tomorrow," Berube said on Friday morning.

Berube confirmed that Matthews wouldn't be in the lineup against the Red Wings. The Maple Leafs are set to host the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, so is it possible Matthews will return to the lineup then?

"I would say no, tomorrow too. But again, he's doing better which is good," said Berube. "I can't give you anything more than that, to be honest with you. I mean, like I said, I'll update you more tomorrow. We'll see how he's doing tomorrow."

Toronto's captain was on the receiving end of a cross-check from Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert on Sunday. Matthews finished the game with a goal and 19:18 of ice time in the Maple Leafs 56-3 win in Buffalo.

Matthews first picked up the upper-body issue during training camp. He played through it until early November when the forward began missing games due to the ailment.

Matthews missed nearly the whole month of November with the injury, even flying to Munich, Germany, to receive treatment from a doctor he's used before.

Since returning to the lineup on Nov. 30, Matthews has scored six goals and six assists for 12 points in 11 games. Before the injury, the forward had five goals — far below his usual goal-scoring rate — and six assists through 13 games.

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