TORONTO — Maple Leafs forward Joe Thornton will miss at least four weeks because of a fractured rib.
After being injured during Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Thornton has been placed on long-term injured reserve, a move that helps the team’s salary-cap situation.
Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Auston Matthews also will sit out Friday night’s rematch against the visiting Oilers.
Matthews left the ice before practice began Thursday, with Keefe saying the 23-year-old star wasn’t feeling well coming out of the loss to Edmonton.
The Leafs (3-2) are tied for second with the Winnipeg Jets in the North Division, two points behind the Montreal Canadiens. The Oilers (2-3) are tied for fifth with the Vancouver Canucks.
This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.