The 27-year-old spoke for the first time on Wednesday since Dec. 20, the last time he's been in Toronto's lineup. Matthews took a cross-check from Buffalo Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert, which he says aggravated the injury a "little" bit.

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.

Toronto Maple Leafs' captain Auston Matthews remains out with an injury, and unfortunately, it sounds like it may continue to bother him.