Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will miss Thursday night’s preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens with an upper-body injury.
The decision appears to be for precautionary reasons, with head coach Craig Berube telling reporters the injury is “not serious” and that his star center “should be fine.”
Matthews, 27, left Tuesday’s practice early and did not participate Wednesday. He was on the ice for an optional skate Thursday morning, according to TSN.
He led the NHL in goals scored for the third time in four seasons in 2023-24, tallying a career-high 69 to go along with 38 assists in 81 games.
Matthews has recorded 649 points (368 goals, 281 assists) in 562 games since Toronto made him the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft.
Including Thursday’s game against the visiting Canadiens, the Maple Leafs have four preseason contests left before opening the regular season at Montreal on Oct. 9.