BREAKING: Insider drops unfortunate announcement regarding Auston Matthews
The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins and Kyle Dubas to ScotiaBank Arena tonight for the first time since Dubas was let go by Present Brendan Shanahan. They will have defenseman Timothy Liljegren back in the lineup after missing 6 weeks with an ankle sprain but were going to be without T.J. Brodie and Ryan Reaves.
The Leafs will now reportedly be without their superstar goal-scorer Auston Matthews as Elliotte Friedman has reported that Matthews will be out of the lineup due to the flu bug that has run rampant through the Leafs lineup in recent weeks. Matthews has been on a tear recently, scoring 9 goals in his last 6 games and has 14 points in his last 7 games.
Earlier on Saturday it was also announced that Rickard Rakell will not dress tonight for Pittsburgh either, so both clubs will be missing some important pieces - though the Leafs are sure to feel the sting of losing Matthews more than the Pens will notice Rakell's absence.
Recently recalled Pontus Holmberg will likely draw into the lineup to fill the void down the middle. It also explains why the Leafs opted to recall Holmberg over Alex Steeves this morning given that Steeves has collected at least a point in each of his last 14 games with the Marlies.
