TORONTO – If the Toronto Maple Leafs are to maintain their lead in the race for home ice in Round 1, they’ll need to do so without the services of the reigning MVP for a stretch.
Auston Matthews will be sidelined for a minimum of three weeks due to a knee sprain suffered in Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers.
Matthews had already missed two games earlier this month due to an undisclosed nagging ailment.
The Maple Leafs’ top centreman has scored 25 goals and registered 53 points over 47 games played, earning himself an invite to next weekend’s NHL All-Star Game.
Aleksander Barkov was chosen to replace Matthews for the Atlantic Division for his second appearance in the NHL All-Star Game.
The knee injury will keep Matthews out of action for at least six games, placing his earliest return on Feb. 18, when Toronto hosts Montreal.
The Maple Leafs (30-11-8) sit second in the Atlantic Division, 12 points behind the league-leading Boston Bruins and five points up on the third-seed Tampa Bay Lightning, who hold two games in hand.
Centre Pontus Holmberg was promoted to the top six Friday, skating in Matthews’ place.
