No sign of Matthews at Leafs practice
ST. PAUL, MINN. — There was no sign of Auston Matthews skating with the Maple Leafs — indoors or out — on Wednesday, amid growing likelihood the leading scorer is held out this entire three-game trip.
Coach Mike Babcock was neither panicking, nor providing anything new on Matthews’ muchdiscussed “upper body” injury which many wonder could be a concussion given the ongoing veil of secrecy.
Added to Babcock’s “day-today” list are defenceman Andreas Borgman and winger Nikita Soshnikov, the latter placed on injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 24, which means he could be activated imminently with clearance. The Leafs do have Kasperi Kapanen up from the Marlies as an extra forward at present.
“Auston’s here, Borgman’s here,” assured Babcock after the rest of the Leafs were treated to an outdoor practice at a nearby civic rink. “What ‘day-to-day’ means I don’t know for sure. I just know that (Matthews) didn’t skate again today and that means you’re not playing (the Wild) tomorrow.”
The Leafs wrap in Detroit tonight, then have three days off before facing the Carolina Hurricanes. That’s starting to look like the next appearance for Matthews, who came on the trip so the club could monitor his progress and keep him fit with off-ice exercise. Until Tuesday’s 4-2 late letdown loss in Philadelphia, Toronto was 5-0 without Matthews.
Babcock insists he does nothing to hound the training staff about getting Matthews back or push any injured Leaf, other than make a daily inquiry.
“What I’ve learned over time is I used to ask players questions, but it’s perceived as pressure from the coach. Especially anything that lingers. That’s not my job to put pressure on them. (It’s) when they’re ready to come. We have a great medical staff that prevents the coach from getting his own way. You put pressure on him and he comes back injured — you see it all the time, recurring injuries — it makes no sense.
“In the situation we are (safe for now in the standings), you buy a little time. The other thing is no matter who is away, you have to find a way to win games. Just suck it up, play right and find a way.”
Babcock indicated Wednesday was something of a maintenance day for the rugged Borgman, though he should play the Wild. If not, Connor Carrick is certainly ready for another chance on the blueline. The story with Soshnikov, who did not come on this trip, is a bit more vague. He played 11 minutes on Nov. 24 at Carolina, just his third game of the season, before going back to scratch status. Is it still that lower body injury from last season?
“Good question,” Babcock said. “They thought he was fine. He’s not fine. We’ll get another opinion, do whatever we’ve got to do and get it worked out. The player doesn’t feel right, he can’t play.”
Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau has had far more injuries to deal with than Babcock, indeed the most of his National Hockey League counterparts. On Wednesday, he learned top netminder Devan Dubnyk will need an MRI to determine the extent of a lower body injury from Tuesday night against Calgary.