The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that center Auston Matthews has been placed on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury, a decision that is retroactive to November 3. Head coach Craig Berube had previously indicated that Matthews would miss a second consecutive game as the team prepared to face the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night. The injured reserve designation also confirms that Matthews will be sidelined for Saturday's matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.

Matthews is eligible to return before the Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators at home on Tuesday. This roster move allows the team to recall Connor Dewar from the AHL, where he has been rehabbing following offseason surgery. Berube labeled Matthews' injury as a 'day-to-day' situation, clarifying that it is unrelated to the wrist surgery he underwent in 2021, according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had reported last year that Matthews may have undergone a minor procedure on his wrist in 2022. Despite the assurances that this latest injury does not pertain to previous wrist issues, Berube noted that Matthews has been 'fighting through it a little bit' during the early part of the season.

So far this season, Matthews has recorded five goals and 11 points over 13 games, a slow start for a player who won his third Rocket Richard Trophy with a career-high total of 69 goals last year. His last appearance was on Sunday, during which he registered an assist in a 2-1 overtime loss against the Minnesota Wild. In his absence, third-line center Max Domi has stepped up, centering the first line alongside Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies in the game against the Bruins. The Maple Leafs heavily relied on their special teams during that victory, achieving a perfect 6-for-6 record on the penalty kill while scoring three power-play goals. This 4-0 triumph also represented a breakthrough for Toronto's power play, which had previously ranked last in the NHL with a 7.9 percent success rate. As adjustments were made in the lineup, Pontus Holmberg shifted from wing to center on the third line to support Domi, while David Kämpf continued his role as the fourth-line center. Should the Leafs opt to utilize Dewar on Friday night, he could potentially slot in on Kämpf's wing. Matthews, who was limited to just one game missed due to illness last season, is now slated to miss a minimum of three games this season. Historically, the Leafs have a record of 35-19-2 in the regular season without Matthews and won two playoff games without him last spring. Nevertheless, Max Pacioretty emphasized the sentiment that there is 'no replacing' the leading even-strength scorer in the NHL, highlighting the team’s need for Matthews as they aim to improve their 7-5-2 record and challenge the Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.