Auston Matthews will be sidelined for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their upcoming games against the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals due to an upper-body injury. This marks the third consecutive game he will miss. Coach Craig Berube confirmed that while Matthews is showing improvement, he will not be participating in the next match. The team plans to provide updates on his recovery as necessary.

Matthews, who serves as both the center and captain for the Maple Leafs, had previously missed nine games last month due to a similar upper-body issue. He had returned to action on November 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he showcased his resilience by scoring and playing significant minutes despite sustaining hits during the game. His current injury raises questions about its relation to previous injuries, but specifics remain undisclosed.

This season, Matthews has accumulated 23 points in 24 games, contributing to the team's strong performance. He has demonstrated consistent scoring ability, leading the league with 69 goals last season and maintaining a high goal tally since entering the NHL. The Maple Leafs have managed to perform well without him, boasting a record of 7-2-0 in his absence last month.