Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews to miss three weeks with knee sprain
Posted January 27, 2023 10:56 am.
Last Updated January 27, 2023 10:58 am.
If the Toronto Maple Leafs are to maintain their lead in the race for home ice in Round 1, they’ll need to do so without the services of the reigning MVP for a stretch.
Auston Matthews will be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks due to a knee sprain suffered in Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers.
Injury update:
Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will be out of the lineup for a minimum of three weeks due to a knee sprain suffered in Wednesday’s game vs. NYR.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 27, 2023
Matthews had already missed two games earlier this month due to an undisclosed nagging ailment.
The Maple Leafs’ top centreman has scored 25 goals and registered 53 points over 47 games played, earning himself an invite to next weekend’s NHL All-Star Game.
Aleksander Barkov was chosen to replace Matthews for the Atlantic Division for his second appearance in the NHL All-Star Game.
Aleksander Barkov of the host @FlaPanthers will replace injured Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews on the Atlantic Division roster at the 2023 Honda #NHLAllStar Game.
This will be the second All-Star appearance for Barkov (also 2018).https://t.co/uaGaJy91ri pic.twitter.com/niKej9OvPr
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 27, 2023
The knee injury will keep Matthews out of action for at least six games, placing his earliest return on Feb. 18, when Toronto hosts Montreal.
The Maple Leafs (30-11-8) sit second in the Atlantic Division, 12 points behind the league-leading Boston Bruins and five points up on the third-seed Tampa Bay Lightning, who hold two games in hand.
Centre Pontus Holmberg was promoted to the top six Friday, skating in Matthews’ place.
