Berube: 'No setbacks' for Matthews despite extended absence

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Auston Matthews' injury status remains status quo with the captain set to miss his sixth consecutive contest Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.

"No setbacks," Berube said, according to The Athletic's Chris Johnston and Jonas Siegel. "We've got two games in a long stretch of time. So we're letting him recover."

Matthews is listed as day-to-day and was eligible to be activated off injured reserve Tuesday. Berube hopes a spread-out schedule over the next two weeks will allow Matthews to return at full strength.

"We want to get him 100%," Berube said. "We want to get him behind this, so he can move forward and we can move forward."

He added, "Would I like him back? Yeah, for sure. But it is what it is. We just gotta keep moving on without him right now."

Matthews, 27, sustained the injury in training camp, and the ailment could explain his slow start of five goals and 11 points in 13 games before being sidelined. He registered career highs (69 goals, 107 points) in both offensive categories last season.

The Maple Leafs have gone 4-1 in Matthews' absence. They're currently second in the Atlantic Division at 10-6-2.

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