Toronto Maple Leafs captain and U.S. Olympian Auston Matthews left Tuesday’s game and didn’t return after a series of hits involving him and Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
Matthews, who was one of the first six players named to the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team, went hard into the boards after he was checked from behind by Zadorov during the second period of the Nov. 11 game. The center got up, skated down the ice, checked the defenseman and lost his balance. Matthews also was hit by a cleared puck right before he checked Zadorov.
The Maple Leafs later announced that Matthews would not return to the game because of a lower body injury.
Auston Matthews injury update
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube had no updates on Matthews after the game.
He said he couldn’t provide a timeline or say how serious the injury was.
‘We’ll see (tomorrow),’ he told reporters on Tuesday. ‘Right now, it’s lower body. We’ll see (tomorrow) how he is.’
On the original Zadorov hit, Berube said, ‘I think it’s a penalty, personally, but I’m not the referee. I don’t like it. I don’t like the hit. It’s a vulnerable position.’
Zadorov, known for his physical play, told reporters about his perspective on the hit.
‘It was just a normal play,’ he said. ‘I didn’t really hit him. I hit my right shoulder, 99% of my hits in the NHL are with my right shoulder.
‘I’m not sure what hit he got hurt (on). Is it like when he went after me again and I counter-hit him? Or maybe when I cleared the puck, I hit him with the puck. … There was really no intention to hurt him. I play hard against top players on the other team, that’s my job.’
U.S. Olympic team injuries
Four of the original six players named to the U.S. Olympic team have been injured since the announcement.
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk had offseason hernia surgery. Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk had thumb surgery in October. Both remain out but are expected back before the Olympics in February.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes missed four games with a lower body injury but returned in early November. He left Tuesday’s game after an injury scare but returned.
Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel and Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy also were named to the U.S. team.
Final rosters are due on Dec. 31.