Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews will miss at least one more game, Berube says

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters Friday that while Matthews is “doing better,” he will miss the team’s two weekend games as he continues to deal with a lingering injury.

The Leafs played at Detroit on Friday before returning home to face Washington on Saturday.

Matthews missed Toronto’s last two games before the break – both losses.

Berube said a cross-check by Buffalo Sabers defenseman Dennis Gilbert “aggravated” the upper-body injury that caused the Maple Leafs captain to miss nine games and travel to Germany for treatment earlier this season.

Matthews, who scored 69 times in 2023-24 for the most by any player in more than 30 years, has 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games this season.

After the weekend back-to-back, their busy schedule continues with home-and-homes against the New York Islanders on Tuesday and Thursday.

— With files from The Canadian Press.