The Toronto Maple Leafs need bodies on the team and have subsequently placed Auston Matthews on retroactive injured reserve so that they could call up a player. The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Auston Matthews on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 20, with <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/craig-berube-updates-auston-matthews-potential-return-to-the-lineup-after-he-comes-back-to-practice' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>an aggravated upper-body injury that previously kept him out in November</a>. The team said Auston Matthews, 27, has had no setback and that the move would be done to open up a roster spot since several players are currently under the flu bug. In the meantime, <a href='https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/maple-leafs-place-captain-matthews-160726394.html' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Toronto has called up</a> defenseman Marshall Rifai. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1874120368539189735'> </a></blockquote></div> <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/auston-matthews-8479318' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Matthews</a> was on the ice for more than half of Monday's practice and skated on the first line with Max Pacioretty, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner. His status for the Jan. 2 game against the Islanders remains in doubt. He skated yesterday and had a good skate, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday ahead of their game against the New York Islanders. I was glad he was out there. It was good to see him out there with us in practice, and really, we go from there and see how he is progressing tomorrow and see if he's out there in practice again tomorrow with us. The Leafs also announced Pontus Holmberg and Oliver Ekman-Larsson will miss Tuesday's game with illness. David Kampf will remain at center on the second line and Connor Dewar will move into another center role. Oliver Ekman-Larsson misses his first contest of the season. It's likely Philippe Myers who draws back in for the defense as well. Ryan Reaves, who hasn't played since December 21, is back in to slot in upfront for Pontus Holmberg in all probability. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1873765992633102436'> </a></blockquote></div> Illnesses notwithstanding, head coach Craig Berube said he isn't concerned that something is going around the team. I'm not going to worry about that. If it happens, it happens. I mean, there's nothing I can do about it. I'm just focused on the game and who's playing the game today for us and how we need to get two points. - Craig Berube Toronto hosts the Islanders in a matinee at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.