The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed star forward Auston Matthews on injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 11, the team announced Friday.
In a flurry of other moves, the Leafs activated goaltender Joseph Woll to the roster and recalled forward Easton Cowan from the Toronto Marlies. Artur Akhtyamov was also assigned back to the American Hockey League affiliate.
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reported on Thursday that Matthews would be sidelined for at least one week with the injury after Toronto's captain left a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Matthews exited the contest in the second period after taking a hit from Nikita Zadorov that sent him into the boards. However, head coach Craig Berube acknowledged he was not sure if Matthews suffered the injury on the hit.
The Boston blueliner was not penalized on the play and told reporters after the game there was no ill intent.
"It was just a normal play. I didn't really hit him. I hit my right shoulder, 99 per cent of my hits in the NHL are with my right shoulder," Zadorov said.
"There was really no intention to hurt him. I play hard against top players on the other team, that's my job."
The San Ramon, Calif. native also missed Toronto's 4-3 overtime loss against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night with the injury.
Matthews has nine goals and five assists for 14 points in 17 games so far this season.
Woll, 27, has yet to appear for the Maple Leafs this season after taking leave from the team during training camp to deal with a personal matter.
The Dardenne Praire, Mo. native returned to practice with the Leafs earlier this month, and played in two games for the Marlies this week, posting a 3.72 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.
Woll's activation comes in the wake of Anthony Stolarz missing Thursday's contest with an upper-body injury.
Like Matthews, Stolarz was also hurt in the loss against the Bruins earlier this week, giving way to Dennis Hildeby in the crease before the start of the second period.
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported on Early Trading Thursday that the injury to Stolarz was considered less serious than the one to Matthews, with the goaltender expected to be "more day-to-day".
Cowan rejoins the team after being sent down to the AHL on Nov. 5. The rookie winger played in two games for the Marlies, recording an assist.
Cowan, 20, averaged 12:33 of ice time in his first stint with the Maple Leafs in the early part of the season.
He scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 1 in a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, also adding three assists in his first 10 games with the club.
Akhtyamov, 24, heads back down to the AHL after being recalled for the game against Los Angeles. The Russian netminder did not appear in the contest, serving as Hildeby's back up in the loss.
In six games for the Marlies this season, Akhtyamov has posted a 4-2-0 record with a 2.82 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage.
With their fourth consecutive loss Thursday, Toronto has fallen to 8-8-2 in their second season under Berube and now occupy sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
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