Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Seven points in last six games
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Matthews scored a goal and added an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Bruins on Saturday.
Matthews tied the game at 18:43 of the third when he redirected Mitch Marner's pass from the right point. However, a turnover by an exhausted Matthews in the extra frame resulted in Boston's game-winner. Matthews got off to a slow start this season, but he has seven points, including four goals, in his last six games. He's been seriously unlucky -- his 9.5 shooting percentage is well below his 16.1 career average and almost half his 18.7 percent success rate from last season. Matthews will heat up soon, especially if his shooting pace remains strong. He has a league-leading 42 shots on net through nine outings.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Nets PP goal Monday
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Matthews scored a power-play goal in Monday's 5-2 win over the Lightning.
Matthews endured a tough start to the season and went pointless over his first three outings, but he's responded admirably with a three-game point streak, notching three goals and two assists in that span. This time, the star center scored Toronto's second goal with a wrister less than two minutes into the second period, and that would end up being the game-winning goal. It's worth noting that three of Matthews' five points have come with the man advantage, and he'll aim to keep that streak alive Tuesday on the road against Columbus.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Four points in last two games
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Matthews scored a goal in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Rangers.
Matthews spun off Adam Fox behind the net, skated into slot and shot past Igor Shesterkin's right pad. He almost got another a couple of minutes later, but the Rangers netminder stretched out and made a toe save. Overall, he had nine shots on goal. Matthews played like he had the puck on a string whenever he had it, but Shesterkin won the duel Saturday. The superstar pivot has four points (two goals, two assists) in his last two outings and 28 shots in five appearances.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Three points in win over Kings
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Matthews notched an even-strength goal and two power-play assists in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Kings.
Matthews hadn't registered a single point in his first three games of the season despite racking up 15 total shots, but he snapped that drought with an impressive outing Wednesday. Matthews is too talented to be held off the scoresheet like he was in the first three games of the campaign, and he should remain an absolute menace when the Maple Leafs take on the Rangers on Saturday. Matthews is coming off a career-best season in 2023-24 where he posted 107 points across 81 games, tallying 69 goals and 38 assists.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Back in action Saturday
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Matthews potted a power-play goal and added an assist on the man advantage in Saturday's 3-2 preseason win over Detroit.
Matthews had been nursing an upper-body injury since playing in Toronto's exhibition opener against Ottawa on Sept. 22, but he didn't skip a beat in Saturday's matchup. His slap shot tied the game in the second, and he found John Tavares in the slot for the winner early in the third. Matthews has put up at least 106 points in two of his last three campaigns, and he came within a goal of the 70-goal threshold in the 2023-24 regular season.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Practices again Saturday
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Matthews (upper body) practiced Saturday with Toronto's non-game group, per Nick Barden of The Hockey News.
Even if Matthews misses the final two preseason contests, he should be ready for Opening Night on Oct. 9 against Montreal. He said he was "feeling good" after Friday's practice, according to TSN's Mark Masters. The 27-year-old Matthews amassed 69 goals and 107 points in 81 regular-season outings in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Won't play Thursday
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Matthews (upper body) will not be in the lineup versus Montreal on Thursday.
Matthews' upper-body injury has been classified as minor, but it's still just preseason, so the Leafs have no reason to rush him back into action. Given the number of veterans suiting up Thursday, it seems likely Matthews would have played had he been 100 percent. As of yet, there is no reason to worry Matthews won't be available to play versus Montreal on Oct. 9.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Battling minor injury
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Matthews is contending with an upper-body issue, but it's not considered serious, Mark Masters of TSN reports Tuesday.
It's unclear if Matthews picked up the injury in Sunday's 6-5 overtime preseason loss to the Senators. The 27-year-old scored a goal and saw 20:26 of ice time in that contest. The superstar center's progress will be something to monitor in the coming days. Matthews potted 69 goals and 107 points in 81 regular-season outings with Toronto in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Named to U.S. roster for 4 Nations
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Matthews was one of the first players selected by Team USA for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
In Matthews, Team USA has the NHL's leading goal scorer from the 2023-24 season. He scored 69 times, the most by a player since Mario Lemieux potted 69 in 1995-96. Matthews was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, which goes to the NHL's top player as voted by the players, and he finished third in voting for the Selke Trophy, given to the league's top defensive forward.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Provides helper in loss
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Matthews recorded an assist, three shots on goal and six hits in Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Bruins in Game 7.
Matthews missed Games 5 and 6 with an undisclosed injury, and he was able to play just 17:35 in Game 7. The 26-year-old contributed a helper on William Nylander's tally in the third period, but the Maple Leafs held that lead for just 1:21. Matthews ended the playoffs with four points, 20 shots on net, 25 hits and a plus-2 rating over five appearances. His four-year, $53 million contract extension, which he signed in August of 2023, kicks in next season.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Good to play in Game 7
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Matthews (illness) will draw into the lineup for Game 7 versus the Bruins on Saturday, per Jonas Siegel of The Athletic.
Matthews missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury, according to Emily Kaplan of ESPN, after exiting Game 4 due to an illness. The 26-year-old forward has a goal, three points and 17 shots in four playoff outings this year. Matthews was immensely important to the Leafs' offense during the regular season, providing 69 goals and 107 points across 81 appearances. He should see time on the top power-play unit even though he will start Saturday's contest alongside Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok at even strength.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Skating Saturday
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Matthews (illness) skated at practice, though his status remains unclear for Saturday's Game 7 against the Bruins, Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com reports.
It's the first time Matthews has practiced since he left Game 4 with an illness. He has missed the last two games of the series. Getting Matthews back would be a massive boost for the Leafs in Game 7, though it appears he'll remain a game-time decision for now.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Remains in doubt for Game 7
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Matthews (illness) skated Friday but is still questionable heading into Game 7 against the Bruins on Saturday. Coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters, "There's been progress...but no determination on his availability," per Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.
Matthews' availability almost certainly won't be confirmed until closer to puck drop Saturday, so fantasy players will likely have to take a wait-and-see approach. Despite not having the world-class center in the lineup, Toronto has managed to win back-to-back games to force a Game 7. If cleared to play, Matthews figures to unseat Max Domi on the top line and No. 1 power-play unit.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Not playing Thursday
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Matthews (illness) has been ruled out of the lineup for Thursda's Game 6 versus Boston, per Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun.
Matthews was on the ice Thursday for 30 minutes before the morning skate, but he did not participate during regular practice. The superstar center was pulled from action between the second and third periods in Game 4 on Saturday, and he was unable to play in Game 5 on Tuesday. Matthews had a goal and two assists in Game 2, but he has not had a point in any of the three other games in the series. The hope is he will be good to go for Game 7 if Toronto can extend the series with a win Thursday.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Not expected to play in Game 5
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Matthews (illness) is not expected to play in Game 5 versus the Bruins on Tuesday, Emily Kaplan of ESPN reports.
Matthews had limited participation in Tuesday's morning skate after making an early exit from Game 4. The Maple Leafs will be forced to face elimination without the league's top goal scorer in 2023-24. Look for Max Domi and John Tavares to see larger roles due to Matthews being unavailable.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Awaiting medical clearance
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Matthews (illness) will be a game-time decision for Game 5 against the Bruins on Tuesday. Coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters, "We'll see how the rest of the day goes," per David Alter of The Hockey News.
Matthews didn't stay on the ice long during the team's game-day skate, raising doubts regarding his availability. Still, if the 26-year-old California native can get the all-clear from the team doctors, he should immediately reclaim both his top-line and No. 1 power-play roles. By Matthews' standards, he has struggled offensively of late with just one goal in his last six outings.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Traveling with team
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Matthews (illness) will join the Maple Leafs when they travel to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday but remains questionable after head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters, "We're hopeful he's available and feeling good and back to himself," per ESPN's Kristen Shilton.
Matthews has scored just one goal in his last six contests despite having racked up 34 shots on net and adding two assists over that stretch. Without the world-class center at practice Tuesday, Toronto shifted Max Domi to center in addition to slotting him into Matthews' spot on the No. 1 power-play unit. If Matthews can get even close to 100 percent, he should reclaim both those roles heading into Tuesday's must-win game for Toronto.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Not practicing Monday
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Matthews (illness), who was pulled from Game 4 against the Bruins on Saturday, was not in attendance for Monday's practice session, Joshua Kloke of The Athletic reports.
Matthews has produced points in just one of his last six appearances, though he racked up one goal and two helpers in that contest. The 26-year-old center's absence shouldn't come as a significant surprise considering he is trying to recover from a seemingly long-term illness that he tried to push through in Game 4. Without Matthews in the lineup, John Tavares could be given the first-line center role while Max Domi would likely move up to the No. 1 power-play unit. At this point, Matthews should be considered questionable ahead of Game 5 on Tuesday.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Pulled from game due to illness
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Matthews was pulled from Saturday's Game 4 due to the illness he's been dealing with in recent days, Joshua Kloke of The Athletic reports.
Matthews didn't play in the third period, and head coach Sheldon Keefe explained that the Maple Leafs' doctors pulled the world-class center from the contest. The 26-year-old Matthews will have an extra day to recover before Tuesday's must-win Game 5 in Boston.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Exits Game 4
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Matthews (undisclosed) won't return to Saturday's Game 4 versus the Bruins.
Matthews reportedly was ill during Game 3 on Wednesday, per Mark Masters of TSN, but it's unclear if his exit from Game 4 is related. Matthews should be considered day-to-day ahead of Tuesday's Game 5, pending an update from the Maple Leafs.
