Maple Leafs Face Tough Stretch Without Matthews

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is NHL News Today. Subscribe to keep up with every headline, every game. The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a tough stretch after Captain Austin Matthews suffered a serious knee injury last Thursday against the Anaheim. Ducks. He took a knee on knee hit from Rad Cogutus and was ruled out for the rest of the 2025-26 season with a grade 3 MCL sprain and a quad contusion. The team now has just 14 games left to play without their star center. William Nylander will have to shoulder more of the offensive load and step into a bigger leadership role. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are calling up players from their American hockey league affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Benoit Olivier Gruehl has already notched three goals in four games and others like Jacob Quilland and Michael Pizzetta are getting chances too. Fans and pundits are buzzing about the lack of response from teammates when Matthews went down, turning it into a league-wide debate on protecting stars.

1:00The injury has amplified frustration since the Olympic break with the team struggling to string wins together. Playoff hopes are fading fast as they sit 10 points out of the final wildcard spot with 70 points, currently 22nd overall. The focus has shifted to dropping in the standings, there are 6 points ahead of the New York Rangers for 5th, from the bottom to reclaim their 20, 26 first round draft pick from the Boston Bruins. This week, they faced the New York Islanders on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern time, the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday at 7 p.m., and the Ottawa. Senators on Saturday at 7 p.m. Losses could help their draft position as the season winds down. Thanks to our sponsor for supporting today's coverage, it is a pillow that plays your podcast and music without earbuds, built for listening and bed, SOLI, solely pillow.com