Auston Matthews won't be on the ice on Tuesday to welcome back his old head coach.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have ruled out the star centre for their home matchup against Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils due to a lower-body injury.
Matthews entered the day with a game-time decision designation after suffering the injury while blocking a shot in Sunday's overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings, and he's now considered day-to-day, the team announced.
The Maple Leafs captain has played in all but five games this season, logging 15 goals and 12 assists with a plus-four mark. Matthews sits second on Toronto's roster for goals and faceoff wins and is fourth in total points with his 27.
It's already been an injury-filled couple of days for the Maple Leafs, who will be without defenceman Chris Tanev and centre Dakota Joshua on Tuesday against the Devils.
Tanev has been ruled out with a lower-body injury, and according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto native may be in store for his second lengthy absence of the season — previously missing 23 games due to an upper-body injury. As for Joshua, he injured his kidney against the Red Wings and is still in Detroit getting treatment.
More, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters that William Nylander is still day-to-day with the lower-body injury he sustained against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
Toronto subsequently recalled defenceman Matt Benning and forward Jacob Quillan from the AHL ahead of Tuesday's matchup.
Puck drop between the 17-5-6 Maple Leafs and Keefe's 20-16-2 Devils is set for 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
