Auston Matthews fired the first on-ice salvo in the opening instalment of what should be lengthy Golden Horseshoe rivalry with the Buffalo Sabres’ Jack Eichel, but his Maple Leafs may have paid a painful price for the victory.
About an hour before a Matthews second-period snapshot into the top corner put the hosts ahead for good in an eventual 4-3 Leafs victory on Tuesday night, top defenceman Morgan Rielly was knocked out of the game midway through the opening frame with a suspected right knee/leg injury.
Toronto coach Mike Babcock said afterwards that the team would know more about the situation Wednesday after Rielly had undergone additional tests.