NHL Injury update: Auston Matthews out for Toronto Maple Leafs with lower-body issues

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is hospitalized and deemed day-to-day due to a lower-body injury that he got in the overtime defeat against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Matthews, who blocked a shot in the second period, spent only a minute off the ice before coming back to complete the game. Nevertheless, there was an effort, and the team confirmed that he will not be playing on Tuesday in the home game against the New Jersey Devils.

The Maple Leafs have already suffered a trail of injuries. Defenseman Chris Tanev is still out with a lower-body problem, and it is his second absence of the season of at least 23 games since he was out with an upper-body injury previously. Centre Dakota Joshua is also out as he undergoes treatment for a kidney trauma against the Red Wings.

Auston Matthews' injury update for Maple Leafs' next games

Toronto had Matt Benning and Jacob Quillan from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL to fill the gaps in the lineup. Quillan has been among the best performers of the Marlies this season, as he has been the leading scorer of the team, besides demonstrating consistent defensive performance. Benning is a veteran who has played in more than 460 NHL games and will be a good depth player on the blue line.

This season, Matthews, 27, has been credited with 15 goals and 12 assists in 33 games, and is second in the Maple Leafs in goals and faceoff wins and fourth in points with 27. His absence is a big blow to the Toronto team, who are still in last position in the Atlantic Division but only four points behind a playoff position as they face off a difficult run of games.
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