Latest Auston Matthews Update Not Good News for the Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs are set to welcome the Ottawa Senators to Scotiabank Arena for their first matchup against their provincial rivals tomorrow night.

After ringing off victories against Atlantic Division foes last week in Boston, Detroit, and Montreal, the Leafs are striving for a 4-game winning streak.

As things stand today, if the Leafs want to extend their win streak to 4 games, it sounds like they will have to do it without the services of Matthews, who was not on the ice with the rest of his teammates during their full practice session earlier today.

The upper-body injury that has kept him out up until this point - and even needed an IR placement - seems to be lingering. General Manager Brad Treliving then added another wrinkle when he told the media that their captain would be doubtful for tomorrow's game.

Ironically enough, the Maple Leafs have played their most inspired hockey with Matthews on the mend. They secured their 2nd 3-game winning streak of the season, snapped out of a 7-game funk where they only won twice, and have outscored the opposition 11-2 while playing a clean brand of two-way hockey.

Matthews was seen skating on Saturday, perhaps suggesting that a return is near, but after today's missed practice, it sounds like his absence will be extended.

The Maple Leafs head to Washington on Wednesday to complete their back-to-back set before returning back home for a matchup against Edmonton on Saturday, so it will be interesting to see if he joins the club on the road or if he stays back in Toronto to prepare for Saturday's clash with the Oilers.

Of course, his return would be a welcomed sight to the lineup, especially with Max Pacioretty expected to be out for the foreseeable future with a lower-body injury.

In the meantime, expect more of the same from Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly as the Leafs look to improve to 10-5-2 tomorrow night.