The primary reason Auston Matthews and Anthony Stolarz won’t play in the Maple Leafs’ game against the Kings

The Maple Leafs, already struggling with three straight losses, will face the Los Angeles Kings without their captain. Auston Matthews sustained a lower-body injury on Tuesday night in Boston during Toronto’s 5‑3 defeat to the Bruins, which will sideline him for the immediate future, beginning with Thursday’s game at Scotiabank Arena. Fortunately, the team does not anticipate a long-term absence.

“I’m hoping just a week, but maybe sooner,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “He could feel much better in a couple of days, and hopefully be ready to play, but we’ll see. It could be up to a week.”

Berube also clarified that Matthews had no preexisting issues before the Boston game and that the injury was not caused by the hit from Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, contrary to popular belief. The coach could not specify exactly when the injury occurred during the match.