Marty Klinkenberg

Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers is knocked to the ice by Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 16, in Toronto.

GM Brad Treliving said the development is ‘not alarming,’ and that Matthews likely will return to game action Nov. 27 against the Florida Panthers

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Fraser Minten reacts after scoring his first career NHL goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at Scotiabank Arena.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews controls the puck against the St. Louis Blues, in St. Louis on Nov. 2. Connor Hamilton/The Associated Press

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews shoots against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., on Nov 3. Brace Hemmelgarn/Reuters

Connor Bedard, right, of the Chicago Blackhawks battles for the puck against Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena Toronto, on Dec. 2.

Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine shoots the puck against the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Dec. 3. David Kirouac/Reuters

Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares tries to tip a shot in front of Buffalo goalie Devon Levi during the first period in Toronto, on Dec. 15. Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press

The podium with what's left of the Gilles Villeneuve bronze statue at the Musée Gilles-Villeneuve in Berthierville, Que., on Dec. 6. Andrej Ivanov/The Globe and Mail

From the PWHL's Battle on Bay Street to Phil Wizard's closing act at the Olympics, The Globe's Sports Department relives an action-packed year that featured everything from the sacred to the profane