Maple Leafs continue without Auston Matthews at Islanders

(Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to wait a little longer before welcoming back Auston Matthews to a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations.

The New York Islanders can't afford to wait much longer to begin winning and stave off a potential breakup of the core that reached consecutive NHL semifinals in 2020-21.

The Maple Leafs and Islanders will open the new year by completin