Leafs’ Auston Matthews could miss week with lower-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs captain auston matthews Coach Craig Berube confirmed Thursday that he could miss up to a week of action with a lower-body injury.

The forward’s status was up in the air after he fouled out in the second period of Tuesday’s game. boston After a hit from behind by a Bruins defenseman Nikita ZadorovToronto hosts it Los Angeles Kings On Thursday night.

,[Matthews] can come back soon [than a week],” Berube said. ”one of those things [where] He may feel much better in a few days from now [we’re] Hopefully he will be good to go. But we will see. “It may take up to a week.”

Matthews was knocked down the boards midway through the second period Tuesday, and he immediately tried to retaliate against Zadorov with a hit of his own against the blue liner. Matthews did not take a second shift and left the Leafs’ bench at the next TV timeout. He did not return even the third time.

No penalties were imposed on the game, which Berube did not agree with.

“Personally I think it’s a fine,” he said Tuesday. “I don’t like it; I don’t like hit [from Zadorov], [Matthews] Was in an unsafe condition.”

This will be Matthews’ first injury-related absence of the season after missing 15 games last year. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has nine goals and 14 points in 17 games this season.

“We went last year without playing [Matthews] For a while, and it’s just the next-man-up mentality [again],” Berube said. “People get big opportunities here, get big roles. “We need a better team game.”

Matthews wasn’t the only one who was eliminated from Tuesday’s competition. goaltender Anthony Stolarz Left even after the first period, during which he allowed three goals on 10 shots. Bérubé said on Tuesday that he did not think the Stolarz issue was serious and on Thursday announced that he was day-to-day. The netminder is 6-5-1 with a .884 SV% and 3.51 GAA this season.

dennis hildeby Expected to start for Toronto against the Kings. Leafs recall goaltender artur akhtiamov from the American Hockey League on Thursday to support Hildeby. he also put forward Scott Laughton On injured reserve with an upper body injury.