Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe shares the latest on Auston Matthews

However the big news from the game was Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews left the game with an expected concussion after falling battling with Hurricanes forward Nino Niederreiter, Matthews took a knee to the head inadvertently by Carolina Hurricanes Brett Pesce.

Following the game all the questions were understandable on the injured star from the media and a worried Leafs nation. Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe gave this statement to the media,

"We'll give it some time here to settle down and assess him properly. I had him taking a scheduled day off tomorrow anyway coming back from the All-Star Game. That will give even more time for him to get assessed and make a determination from there."

Sheldon Keefe talked more on Matthews saying, "There was a pretty good sense by the time he left last night that it wasn't necessarily going to be a head injury. But with the nature of the hit that he took, you're going to continue to be cautious to make sure he's feeling good before he gets back on the ice."

"It's a really good sign," Keefe said. "As far as his status in terms of practicing tomorrow, we'll see how he comes in tomorrow but today was a very good day."

Obviously this is great news Leafs fans and for Matthews and the Leafs and it contradicts earlier reports that he may be out a week or longer due to a suspected concussion. The 24-year-old superstar has 31 goals and 53 points in just 40 games this season. His goal last night earned him the distinction of having 30+ goals in each of his first six NHL seasons. If the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to make a run at the Stanley Cup, they are going to have to have a 100% healthy Auston Matthews.

Credit: HockeyFeed