ESPN REPORT: Another Mega Star Commits To Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed on Monday that top player Auston Matthews will be sidelined for at least four weeks due to a shoulder injury.
The 21-year-old told reporters he won’t require surgery after the Maple Leafs placed him on injured reserve.
The previous season, Matthews missed 20 games, ten of them due to a separated right shoulder. According to him, the injury is comparable to the opposing shoulder.
He added, “It’s a part of the game.” “I’m going to work as hard as I can to get back as soon as possible.”
In Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, Matthews sustained an injury in the second period. While the center was cutting in front of the net with the ball, Winnipeg defenseman Jacob Trouba hit him shoulder-to-shoulder and prevented him from taking a shot.
Matthews remarked, “I knew the guy was coming.” “You’re so close to the goaltender that you never really know what to anticipate, so I was trying to get a shot off. Instead of doing what is expected of him, he took my body and caught me off guard.”
With 10 goals and 16 points, Matthews leads the team in scoring. With 11 goals, fellow American Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks leads the NHL in scoring.
Matthews remarked, “You want to be out there so bad.” “The worst thing is definitely watching the game. I believe that being a part of something and not being with your teammates is what’s most difficult.”
Before Monday night’s game against Calgary, coach Mike Babcock’s team was 8-3-0. Babcock said he spoke with Matthews about how to handle the loss.
The coach told them to “be around the group, do what you do, and train real hard.” “Be better when you come back than you were.”
The Maple Leafs are among the NHL’s deepest forward teams, averaging 3.73 goals per game this season, which is the third-best average in the league. With Matthews out of the game, the Leafs rallied from a 2-0 hole against the Jets on Saturday by scoring three goals in a row in the final 17 minutes of regulation.
Now that Matthews is gone, center Nazem Kadri, ranked third, is back alongside Mitch Marner and Patrick Marleau, two wings who were very successful together in the second half of the previous campaign.
Despite sitting out 20 games the previous campaign, Matthews led the squad in points (63) and goals (34).
“He did a ton of work this summer on his shoulders to make sure he was a stronger,” Babcock stated. These events take place. Although it’s unfortunate for the child, it presents a chance for one of our players to play more. This presents a chance for us to focus and keep improving.”
This report included information from The Associated Press.
