TORONTO (AP) 鈥� The Maple Leafs superstar captain Auston Matthews was set to miss Tuesday night鈥檚 game against the Atlantic Division rival Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury.
Toronto coach Craig Berube said following the morning skate that Matthews, who鈥檚 listed as day-to-day, has been 鈥渇ighting through鈥� the issue but added it鈥檚 not related to the center鈥檚 past wrist problems.
Matthews has five goals and 11 points in 13 games this season. He picked up an assist and played more than 22 minutes in to the Minnesota Wild.
鈥淓verybody just needs to do their job out there,鈥� Berube said of his group鈥檚 mindset without its best player. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think you focus on, 鈥極h, Auston鈥檚 not playing so what are we going to do?鈥� We鈥檝e got a good team, got good players. People are going to get a little different look in situations, lines, things like that. They鈥檙e capable guys, good players.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e just got to go play.鈥�
The Leafs have managed in the past minus Matthews, who succeeded John Tavares as captain in August, with a 35-19-2 regular-season record and a pair of playoff wins.
Toronto, which eventually lost to Boston in seven games in May, plays two more home contests this week 鈥� Friday against the Detroit Red Wings and Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
鈥淓verybody just digs in,鈥� Berube said. 鈥淒ifferent players get a little different opportunity.鈥�
___
AP NHL:
The Associated Press
