Auston Matthews’ initial day-to-day status probably should have been termed week-to-week.
That’s what the upper-body issue has become for the Maple Leafs captain.
Leafs coach Craig Berube said on Monday that he doesn’t see Matthews playing on Wednesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, an absence that would mark Matthews’ seventh game in a row on the sideline.
“I think it’s a little bit of a holding pattern, but he’s not getting worse, so that’s a good thing,” Berube said. “It’s just taking time. He’s doing what he needs to do to get back in the lineup and get healthy, and our team needs to just push on without him right now.”
If there is growing concern with Matthews’ injury within the organization, Berube is not letting on.
That Matthews has not played since Nov. 3 in Minnesota, and at the earliest won’t return until this coming Sunday against Utah, will make it at least three weeks that he is out of the lineup. There’s no way to put a good spin on that.
Matthews again didn’t skate during the past couple of days, Berube said.
The Leafs have done a fine job without Matthews, going 5-1-0 in the six recent games that he has missed.
Mitch Marner has led the way with 10 points in that stretch.
“A lot of guys have elevated their game,” Berube said. “Marner with (John) Tavares, they’ve been a very good line for us, which we need them to be.
“Mitch has been a real good player all year in all areas of the game, penalty kill, power play, five-on-five, whatever we have asked him to do.”
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FOCUS ON FORECHECK
There’s no debate with the impact that Berube has had on the Leafs’ team defence.
Toronto has allowed 28 goals at five-on-five in 19 games, tied for fourth-fewest in the National Hockey League prior to games on Monday. That puts the Leafs on pace to allow 121 five-on-five goals in 82 games, well below the 168 they allowed in Sheldon Keefe’s final season behind the bench in 2023-24.
Five-on-five production, though, has been waning. The Leafs have 36 five-on-five goals, putting them on pace for 155. Last season, they scored an NHL-best 200.
Berube knows the issue, and it’s on players to make it right. He also understands that in being a new coach with system wrinkles, getting everything ironed out won’t happen in a straight line.
“The five-on-five offensive production is more about our forecheck and disrupting more plays on and getting pucks back and making something happen out of that,” Berube said. “Right now, I think we’re a little bit slow, if we get pucks back, at quick-strike plays.
“We were doing a real good job of it for a while this year. Our expected goals were good, our chances were better, and that’s what’s missing right now. We’re a little bit slow, whether it’s through transition or breaking a puck out. It’s a lot of one-man forechecks and we need more guys involved.”
JARNKROK SURGERY
The Leafs announced that winger Calle Jarnkrok underwent groin and sports hernia surgery on Monday morning and will be out of the lineup on a month-to-month basis.
Jarnkrok has not played in a game since he was hurt in camp and is on longterm injured reserve.
“Tough on Jarny, but he has to get it fixed,” Berube said. “It’s too bad, because he’s a player that we liked and can help us.”
Berube said there is hope that Jarnkrok could return before the end of the season.
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LOOSE LEAFS
Berube said he tuned in to watch the Argonauts upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with a 41-24 victory in the Grey Cup on Sunday. “I did,” Berube said. “Congrats to the boys. Great job and great win. Very happy for them. It’s awesome.” … The Leafs will hold their annual Pride celebration game on Wednesday.“The Maple Leafs are proud to support diverse communities, including members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” Leafs director, culture and inclusion, Mark Fraser said in a statement. “We are committed to promoting a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment within hockey – both in our arenas and beyond.”
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