Matthews out at least 3 weeks for Maple Leafs with knee sprain Barkov to replace Matthews at All-Star Weekend

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TORONTO — Auston Matthews will be out at least three weeks for the Toronto Maple Leafs because of a knee sprain.

The center sustained the injury in a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. He had four shots on goal in 21:53 of ice time, but had his 10-game personal point streak end (eight goals, five assists).

Matthews is third on the Maple Leafs with 53 points and second with 25 goals. He missed two games earlier this month on Jan. 11 (2-1 win against the Nashville Predators) and Jan. 12 (4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings) with an undisclosed injury.

Matthews, who was among the 12 players chosen in the 2023 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by Guaranteed Rate to participate in the Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, will be replaced by Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov on the Atlantic Division roster.

The Maple Leafs have three games prior to the NHL All-Star break, beginning with the Ottawa Senators on Friday (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW). They play the Washington Capitals on Sunday and the Boston Bruins on Wednesday before not playing again until Feb. 10.

Center John Tavares replaced Matthews on a line at Toronto’s morning skate Friday between left wing Michael Bunting and right wing Mitchell Marner. Center Pontus Holmberg was moved up to replace Tavares on a line with left wing Calle Jarnkrok and right wing William Nylander.

[RELATED: Barkov of Panthers to replace Matthews of Maple Leafs at All-Star Weekend]

Aleksander Barkov was added to the Atlantic Division roster for the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend on Friday.

The Florida Panthers center will replace Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, who is unable to participate because of injury.

Barkov is second on the Panthers with 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 40 games this season. It is his second All-Star selection, having also been chosen in 2018.

He will join teammate Matthew Tkachuk, who leads Florida with 62 points (25 goals, 37 assists) on the Atlantic Division roster. The Panthers are hosting the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game at FLA LIVE Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb. 4 (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS).

Matthews, who has 53 points (25 goals, 28 assists) in 47 games this season, will be sidelined for at least three weeks because a knee sprain he sustained in a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

[RELATED: More 2023 NHL All-Star Game coverage]

The All-Star Game will feature a three-game tournament, played in a 3-on-3 format and showcasing teams from each NHL division. Each of the four teams will include nine skaters and two goalies.

The Pacific Division will play the Central Division in the first All-Star Game semifinal, followed by the Atlantic taking on the Metropolitan Division.

The 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings will take place Feb. 3 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).