TORONTO, ON - APRIL 14: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks on against the Washington Capitals during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on April 14, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Matthews out vs. Islanders due to minor injury, considered day-to-day

4 years ago
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty

Auston Matthews is out Sunday against the New York Islanders due to a minor injury, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said before the game, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

It's a minor ailment he sustained in Saturday's win over the Ottawa Senators.

"Considered pretty minor at this point, but given the back-to-back, the quick turnaround and that kind of stuff, we're going to give him the night off," the bench boss said.

"Just really out of an abundance of caution, we will give him the day off and reassess it from there," he added, according to the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan.

Matthews leads the NHL with 58 goals and ranks fifth with 102 points in 70 games this season. He's the favorite for the Hart Trophy.

The 24-year-old has missed five contests in 2021-22. He sat out three at the start of the campaign as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery and two more when he was suspended for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during the Heritage Classic in March.

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