Maple Leafs celebrity Auston Matthews will return to the lineup Saturday in opposition to the Lightning, he advised reporters Friday, together with David Alter of The Hockey Information. He’ll want to return off injured reserve, so Toronto should make a corresponding transaction to open a spot on the energetic roster.
So ends a prolonged saga that’s seen Matthews sit out the final 9 video games, lacking practically a month with an upper-body damage initially termed day-to-day. Whereas not a major damage, it was doubtlessly regarding sufficient long-term for the Leafs to carry him out and for him to even briefly head abroad final week to see a specialist in Germany that he’s labored with earlier than.
Toronto went on fairly the run with out the companies of their star goal-scorer, going 7-2-0 and outscoring opponents 26-18. That was at the same time as further accidents to top-nine fixtures like Max Domi and Matthew Knies piled up, at one level leaving them with out seven of their traditional prime 12 forwards within the lineup.
That quantity may drop to 5 in opposition to Tampa, with Knies additionally taking line rushes alongside Matthews and William Nylander in Friday’s apply, per Luke Fox of Sportsnet. He’s additionally on IR, so a second corresponding transaction can be required if he is able to return.
Issues did come to a little bit of a head for the Leafs of their final outing, as they misplaced 5-1 to the Panthers and noticed their Atlantic Division lead drop to at least one level. The pending returns of some vital forwards will enable overmatched AHL fixtures like Alexander Nylander and Alex Steeves to return to the farm, as may children Nikita Grebenkin and Fraser Minten.
Matthews’ damage had been plaguing him a bit this season earlier than he exited the lineup, evidenced by his subpar 5 targets and 6 assists for 11 factors in 13 video games. He was capturing at a career-low 8.9% price, although, so his numbers ought to come alive in brief order with pure regression and improved well being. The 27-year-old has taken house the Rocket Richard Trophy 3 times prior to now 4 years, together with final season’s career-high 69 tallies (51 at even power).
