Maple Leafs lose Auston Matthews moments before puck drop.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have shared some bad news just moments before puck drop.

According to an official announcement from Maple Leafs public relations, forward Auston Matthews has been ruled out of tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Maple Leafs will welcome former general manager Kyle Dubas to town for the first time since his much publicized firing earlier this summer, but will now have to do so without their star player in the lineup.

The Maple Leafs also announced that defenseman T.J. Brodie will also miss tonight's game due to illness. This comes as less of a surprise given that Brodie was absent from the team's morning skate and there was some speculation that his absence may have been flu related.