Auston Matthews suffers shoulder injury vs. Jets

This is not what you want to hear if you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

Superstar forward Auston Matthews suffered a shoulder injury Saturday evening against the Winnipeg Jets. Matthews left the game early in the second period and did not return.

With the Jets leading Toronto 1-0, Matthews was on the receiving end of a hit from Jets’ blueliner Jacob Trouba.

Here are a couple looks at the play:

Matthews heads to the tunnel after taking a big hit from Trouba. pic.twitter.com/ItKCJlVYI7

— Flintor (@TheFlintor) October 28, 2018

A closer look at the Jacob Trouba hit that sent Auston Matthews to the dressing room with what looked like a shoulder injury pic.twitter.com/MRRxV7Qn94

— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) October 28, 2018

While it looks like a simple shoulder-to-shoulder collision, Matthews has a history of shoulder injuries:

As mentioned on "Headlines," this is at least the third shoulder injury Auston Matthews has dealt with. Suffered a second-degree separation last season, and had another as a teenager.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 28, 2018

Matthews missed 10 games last season due to a shoulder separation he suffered in a game against the New York Islanders. The young forward got sandwiched between two opposing players:

Here's the video of the collision between Pelech, Clutterbuck and Auston Matthews late in the third period. #Leafs pic.twitter.com/9UP4ppB4cW

— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) February 23, 2018

The team confirmed during Saturday’s game that Matthews does indeed have a shoulder injury. According to reports, it isn’t the same shoulder he injured last year. Matthews isn’t practising and will not be in the lineup Monday evening against the Flames. The Leafs will provide an update on his status Monday.

Through 10 games this season, Matthews has 10 goals and 16 points. It goes without saying how detrimental any long-term injury to Matthews would be to the Maple Leafs.