Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews will not play Wednesday vs. Predators
Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe announced Wednesday that superstar forward Auston Matthews will be held out of the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators.
Sheldon Keefe confirms Auston Matthews is out
Bobby McMann makes NHL debut tonight @TSN_Edge
Matthews, 25, missed Maple Leafs’ practice yesterday but took part in the Maple Leafs’ optional skate Wednesday morning. He was situated with Wayne Simmonds and Jordie Benn, indicating he would be a scratch. Keefe said that the aliment Matthews is dealing with has “been bothering him for a while.” Matthews is coming off an explosive season that saw him net 60 goals and 106 points. This season, he currently has 47 points (20G, 27A) in 41 games.
With Matthews now sidelined, the Maple Leafs are dealing with a number of injuries to their current roster. T.J. Brodie was recently placed on the injured reserve with a rib injury; he recently returned to the lineup in December following an oblique injury. They are also without defenseman Jake Muzzin who is out with a neck-related injury.
In the meantime with Matthews scratched, 26-year-old Bobby McMann will make his NHL debut. He has made a long journey through the AJHL, NCAA, ECHL, AHL and now NHL. He skated on a line at practice with David Kampf and Alex Kerfoot. The Wainwright, Alberta, native was named the American Hockey League (AHL) Player of the Week on Monday after registering six points in three games. In 17 games this season with the Toronto Marlies, McMann has tallied eight goals and 15 points. In 2021-22 McMann set a new Marlies rookie goal-scoring record after he notched 24 goals.
The Maple Leafs are currently 25-9-7 on the season and sit second in the Atlantic Division with 57 points, 11 behind the Boston Bruins.