Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will miss Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders after re-aggravating an upper-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for nine games, head coach Craig Berube confirmed Saturday.

Matthews re-aggravated the injury during Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. The team will make a determination Sunday on Matthews’ status to see if he’ll play in Monday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

“Again, he’s not going to go tonight. He took a cross-check there late in the third period on the power play. Just aggravated it.”

Matthews took a hit from Sabres forward Tage Thompson but immediately got up, and Morgan Rielly responded to the challenge. Matthews also took a cross-check from Sabres defenceman Dennis Gilbert and here’s a video of the play:

Toronto’s captain has recorded 11 goals and 23 points in 24 games. Matthews registered six goals and 12 points in 11 games since returning to the lineup on November 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Matthews has displayed elite defensive work when he’s been healthy and he’s routinely skated and shot with his usual velocity during practice sessions, but head coach Craig Berube indicated he’s been fighting through an injury, prior to Friday’s game. Toronto posted a 7-2-0 record during Matthews’ previous absence.

“It’s tough. He’s fighting through it, and he’s doing a pretty good job out there on the ice,” Berube said of Matthews after Friday’s morning skate. “He’s producing and playing hard and working, and we just gotta manage it. It’ll get better. We just gotta manage it. And that’s why he’s off the ice today.”

If Matthews continues to miss time, it’s a crushing blow to the Maple Leafs. Although the severity of the injury hasn’t been disclosed, Matthews may be forced to sit out of the 4 Nations Face-Off in February if the injury continues to linger, while the Maple Leafs are putting all their efforts into winning in this window.

Matthews went to see a specialist during his time away from the Maple Leafs in November but appears Toronto’s captain is dealing with a recurring ailment.

Toronto did not hold a morning skate on Saturday and more details about Matthews’ injury will emerge during Saturday’s media availability prior to the game.