Auston Matthews to miss tonight’s Maple Leafs game vs. Jets; goalie Frederik Andersen back on ice
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/04/2021 (1607 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were quick to adjust their lineup Thursday morning, as Auston Matthews left the morning skate with an apparent arm injury.
Matthews stepped onto the ice prior to the workout to test his arm. Matthews, who missed games earlier this season with a wrist injury, left the ice before the full workout began.
“Auston is day-to-day at this time,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “It’s not something that will hold him out for long.”
When asked if the current problem is related to the former wrist injury, Keefe said “it’s similar, but not the same.”
With Matthews out, John Tavares stepped into the centre role on the top line with Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman.
Adam Brooks, a Winnipeg native who was on the Leafs taxi squad, drew into the lineup at the morning skate, and is expected to face the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday evening.
The Leafs had some encouraging news on the Frederik Andersen injury front: Andersen skated prior to the full workout with goalie coach Steve Briere. While Andersen has not played (lower-body injury) since March 19, Keefe said Andersen has been skating on his own.
“This wasn’t the first time he’s been on the ice,” Keefe said, updating the previous belief that Andersen had not skated since March 19.
“I don’t think he’s close (to playing) at this time. But this is all part of the process. My understanding is that he is coming on the road with us (week-long western road swing), so that’s very encouraging.”
Keefe also said Wiliam Nylander, who is about to wrap up his seven-day quarantine period under NHL COVID protocols, is close to returning to the team.
“Will is waiting for one more negative test . . . if it’s negative, he can rejoin our team tomorrow (Friday),” Keefe said.
While Nylander has been working out as much as possible on his own, it may take a few practices with the team before he is ready to play in a game, Keefe said.
In the meantime, the Leafs also announced they have signed 2020 first round pick Rodion Amirov to an entry-level contract.
In addition, the club also announced that forward Nick Robertson has been cleared from COVID protocols, and can rejoin the team. Robertson is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Jets.
Here’s the way the Leafs lined up at the morning skate:
Galchenyuk-Tavares-Marner
Hyman-Kerfoot-Mikheyev
Thornton-Engvall-Simmonds
Robertson-Brooks-Spezza
Defence:
Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian
Goal:
Campbell starts
Rittich backs up
Mark Zwolinski is a Toronto-based sports reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @markzwol
