Auston Matthews will officially be back in action for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins.
After missing six games to an undisclosed injury, the former Hart Trophy winner will slide back into the Leafs’ lineup that’s looking to take sole ownership of first place in the Atlantic Division.
“Never fun watching, so I feel excited about being back in,” Matthews said on Saturday morning. “The last couple of skates I’ve had, I’ve felt good. (There has been) positive progress throughout those and I’m feeling confident day by day.”
Auston Matthews returning Saturday vs. Bruins after missing last 6 games with undisclosed injury https://t.co/VWAVsRjVXw
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) January 4, 2025
Matthews took a cross-check from Sabres defenseman Dennis Gilbert on Dec. 20, which worsened his existing injury.
He’s missed a total of 15 games this season due to injury. Despite the setbacks, Matthews has still managed to tally 11 goals and 23 points in 24 games.
In Matthews’ last injury absence in November, he traveled to Germany to consult a specialist regarding his condition.
“You’re always managing (injuries) throughout the year. You’re just trying to stay on top of it,” Matthews said.
Matthews was reported by The Athletic to be skating alongside Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies and taking reps with the first power-play unit at the Leafs’ morning skate on Saturday.
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“He just drives the pace of play,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said of getting Matthews back. “Extremely hard worker, plays 200 feet, the pace goes up for everybody.”
Berube mentioned that the coaching staff deliberated on where to position Matthews before ultimately deciding to reunite him with Knies and Marner.
“Where does he go, what do we do?” Berube said. “More than anything, I just like the look of that line together and they have played extremely well this year for us.
“Willie (Nylander) and (John) Tavares and (Max) Pacioretty have played well, the (Max) Domi line is playing well together.”
Toronto has posted a 3-3-0 record in Matthews’ absence. It heads into back-to-back games at home with the Philadelphia Flyers on deck Sunday.
“It doesn’t get much better than that, when you get our captain back, one of the best in the world and a unique, special player that does so much for us in all ends of the ice. No one can score goals quite like him,” said forward John Tavares.
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