Auston Matthews' bid for the Hart Trophy looks even more impressive following a postgame revelation from Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Matthews didn't take the first faceoff in overtime during the Maple Leafs' 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, and Keefe explained why afterward.
Sheldon Keefe says Auston Matthews has been dealing with a wrist injury "virtually all season."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 25, 2021
He's got 18 goals and 31 points in 20 games.
Keefe added that the injury will be treated and monitored, but he doesn't believe it's any worse than what the superstar forward has dealt with throughout the campaign, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.
Matthews, who leads the NHL with 18 goals, assisted on both of William Nylander's markers against the Flames on Wednesday.
In doing so, Matthews became only the third player in Maple Leafs history to notch a point in at least 18 of his first 20 contests in a season, joining Babe Dye (19 in 1921-22) and Darryl Sittler (18 in 1975-76).
The 23-year-old center put together a pair of stellar scoring runs earlier in 2021, racking up 11 goals over 10 games from Jan. 16 to Feb. 8 and amassing another seven across four contests from Feb. 15 to 20. He's averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time.
It's unclear if it's related, but Matthews sat out last season's on-ice All-Star events to receive treatment for an ongoing wrist condition. He did attend the festivities.
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