The Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing for a potential absence of their captain, Auston Matthews, in the upcoming game against the New York Islanders. Reports indicate that Matthews may have aggravated a prior injury during a recent match against the Buffalo Sabres, which had previously sidelined him for nine games.

Despite the injury concerns, coach Craig Berube noted Matthews' strong performance on the ice, emphasizing the need for careful management of his condition. Matthews had a notable game, scoring his 11th goal of the season before facing a hard hit from Tage Thompson, which led to teammate Morgan Rielly stepping in to defend him.