Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews leaves practice with ‘upper-body thing’

Carter Yakemchuk the 18 year old first round pick by the Ottawa Senators from the 2024 NHL draft scores the game winner in overtime. Final score 6-5 (OT).

Toronto captain Auston Matthews left the Maple Leafs practice early on Tuesday with an upper-body injury.

Toronto coach Craig Berube said he didn’t expect the issue with the Leafs’ new captain to be serious, calling it an “upper body thing.”

The Maple Leafs were practising in Ottawa in advance of their pre-season game Tuesday night against the Senators.

Matthews had a goal on Sunday as the Leafs opened their pre-season schedule with a 6-5 overtime loss to the Senators in Toronto.

The star centre is coming off a stellar 2023-24 campaign that saw him set career highs with 69 goals and 107 points.

He was named the Maple Leafs’ first American-born captain on Aug. 14.

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