Just a week ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs looked like they were on top of the world. A three-game winning streak against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Utah Mammoth had the city buzzing. But in the NHL, fortunes can turn in an instant.
For the Leafs, that instant came with a crushing loss and a sight no fan wanted to see their captain, Auston Matthews, leaving the ice with an injury.
How Long Will the Maple Leafs Be Without Auston Matthews?
The disastrous turn came during a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. Midway through the second period, Matthews was hit along the boards by Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov and sustained a lower-body injury. While Zadorov insisted he had no intention of compromising Matthews, the hit forced the Leafs’ captain to exit the game. Now, reports have confirmed Toronto’s worst fears.
Despite Zadorov’s insistence that the hit was clean, the damage was done. The defenseman, who recently faced backlash for roughing up New York Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer, defended his actions in a post-game address. “There was really no intention to hurt him. I play hard against top players on the other team, that’s my job,” Zadorov explained. Initially, Coach Craig Berube was unsure about a timeline, but the official word is now in.
According to insider Chris Johnston, the lower-body injury will sideline the standout center for at least a week, which covers a minimum of three games. “Hearing that Auston Matthews will be sidelined at least a week with his lower-body injury. Tough run of injuries in Toronto,” Johnston shared on his X account.
Hearing that Auston Matthews will be sidelined at least a week with his lower-body injury.
Tough run of injuries in Toronto.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 13, 2025
The loss of Matthews isn’t the only concern for the team. The game against the Bruins, who extended their own win streak to seven games, also saw goalie Anthony Stolarz go down with an injury. While Coach Berube believes the netminder’s issue is not severe, any absence is a blow to a team already stretched thin.
This situation becomes more complex because the roster was already missing key players Scott Laughton and Chris Tanev. Adding the team’s captain to that list has understandably shaken the fan base’s confidence in the franchise. For a bit of perspective, the Ottawa Senators have managed to stay competitive despite the prolonged absence of their captain, Brady Tkachuk.
Still, the combination of a three-game losing streak and a bottom-tier ranking in the Atlantic Division is a tough pill for the Maple Leafs community to swallow. Despite the challenges, hope is not entirely lost, and Toronto still has a chance to make a significant turnaround.
