Things got a bit chippy for the Toronto Maple Leafs during their disappointing defeat against the Buffalo Sabres, during which they surrendered five goals. Star center Auston Matthews got into a scuffle with Buffalo defender Rasmus Dahlin during the third period, during which Matthews hit Dahlin with a cheapshot crosscheck to the head/neck area. After reviewing the incident, the NHL has suspended Matthews for two games.

Matthews will be sidelined for two crucial games, with Toronto set to take on the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes in his absence. It was the first time in his six-year NHL career that Matthews will face discipline beyond the penalty box, having never even been fined before.

This could be a damaging blow to Matthews hopes of repeating as the NHL's leading goalscorer. As it stands, Matthews' 45 goals through 56 games lead the league. He's currently six goals ahead of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, seven ahead of New York Rangers' Chris Kreider, and eight ahead of Winnipeg Jets' Kyle Connor for the NHL lead.

Matthews and Dahlin had been exchanging blows by the net in the third period when the Maple Leafs star hit him with a cross-check across the neck. Matthews was given a minor penalty for cross-checking and served two minutes in the box.

“You're just battling in front of the net,” Matthews said after the game via ESPN. “I felt like I kind of rode up his shoulder and his shoulder pack rolled up a little bit. That's hockey; you're competing out there.”

Despite acknowledging Matthews' claims that his hit was not intended to intentionally harm or injure Dahlin, the NHL still felt the action warranted a suspension as it wasn't a “routine motion to grab body position.”