Leafs’ Auston Matthews tests negative, Oilers’ Connor McDavid positive but will be retested
Anthony Scultore
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews might be able to play against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday after all following a PCR COVID-19 test that came up negative Tuesday.
Matthews did not practice with the team Monday or Tuesday after a rapid COVID-19 test on Monday showed he was positive. He took a more sensitive PCR test later Monday and those results came back a day later.
“At this point, he has not been ruled out for tomorrow’s game,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We practiced different things here today preparing in the event that we wouldn’t have Auston to show that we’re not caught off guard if that’s the case.”
Matthews vs McDavid
Today, the Oilers announced that Connor McDavid did test positive for COVID-19, but will be retested.
It means that the star-studded clash between Matthews and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid could still take place Wednesday, although the Maple Leafs have adjusted their lines at practice the last two days in case Matthews doesn’t end up playing.
Toronto earned a convincing 5-1 victory at Edmonton on Dec. 14 when Matthews scored two goals, but the Maple Leafs have played just once since then, a 6-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The Maple Leafs had a COVID outbreak that saw 14 players and seven staffers placed in protocol.
Matthews, 24, has 33 points (20 goals, 13 assists) in 28 games this season. In 362 games over six seasons with the Maple Leafs he has 219 goals and 165 assists.
McDavid, 24, has 53 points (19 goals, 34 assists) in 33 games and leads the NHL in scoring.
–Field Level Media contributed to this report