Auston Matthews skates prior to practice, considering Wednesday as possible return

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews could be returning to action Wednesday against the Florida Panthers, after a prolonged absence due to an upper-body injury.

Matthews travelled to Munich this week to see a specialist for an injury that has kept him out of the Maple Leafs’ past seven games. He was initially designated as day-to-day prior to Toronto’s game against the Boston Bruins on November 5, then was placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 3, on November 8. During his absence, Toronto has posted a 6-1 record. Matthews recorded five goals and 11 points in 13 games this season.

“We’ll take it day to day, continue to try to progress on the ice and see how this week looks and feels,” Matthews said via David Alter of The Hockey News. “Obviously, I’d love to get out there. I mean, tomorrow, not realistic, but Wednesday possibly, but we’ll just see how the week goes.”

Matthews was on the ice on November 9 during the morning optional skate, prior to Toronto’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, where he took part in shooting drills, and was skating and shooting with his normal velocity.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli previously reported that Matthews could play Wednesday against the Florida Panthers. Matthews won’t play Sunday against the Utah Hockey Club.

Toronto is facing several injuries and will be without seven regular forwards on Sunday. Matthews, Max Domi — who is now ruled out of Sunday’s game — David Kampf, Max Pacioretty, Calle Jarnkrok and Matthew Knies are all out of the lineup due to injuries, while Ryan Reaves will serve the second-game of his five-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse. Fraser Minten, who scored his first NHL goal during Wednesday’s victory against the Vegas Golden Knights, Nikita Grebenkin, Alex Nylander, Alex Steeves will be afforded greater playing time as a result of these injuries.