The Washington Capitals will face the Toronto Maple Leafs without having to defend against Auston Matthews, as the star center remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Matthews, who has missed the team’s last four games, will sit out a fifth consecutive contest as his recovery has not progressed as expected.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided no further update on Matthews’ condition ahead of Wednesday’s matchup, noting that the team captain did not skate prior to the game. Despite Matthews’ absence, Toronto has fared well, posting a 3-1-0 record without him.
NHL insider Chris Johnston reports that Matthews’ best chance for a return is likely to come on Saturday when the Maple Leafs host the Edmonton Oilers. “The reality is that the schedule has done the Leafs no favors here,” Johnston said, referencing the team’s recent stretch of three sets of back-to-back games. “It’s obviously been tough on the guys, and for Matthews, it hasn’t allowed for many days to get back up and running.”
Berube echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of a cautious approach with Matthews’ recovery. “We’re just trying to make sure when he comes back, he’s good and 100 percent,” said the coach.
Matthews, who has recorded 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 13 games this season, last skated on Saturday but has been sidelined since. In his absence, the Leafs have managed to maintain a strong performance, but the team remains hopeful for his return in the near future.
The Capitals will be relieved to face Toronto without Matthews, who has historically been a dominant force against them. In 18 career games against Washington, Matthews has registered 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists), including a five-point outing (2 goals, 3 assists) in a game last season. The Leafs also swept the season series against the Capitals in 2023, outscoring them 16-5.