Still without a timeline for return, Matthews spoke with media for the first time since he last played on Dec. 20.

For the second time this season, Toronto Maple Leafs superstar forward Auston Matthews is missing time due to an upper-body injury. The Maple Leafs missed their captain for about a month earlier in the season and has now been on the shelf again for five games.

Matthews has missed each of the Maple Leafs' last five games with an upper-body injury and will sit out of tonight's affair after being added to the injured reserve on Tuesday. Toronto has found some success without its captain, but that doesn't change that Craig Berube's team is significantly better when the 27-year-old is healthy.