Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will return to Toronto’s lineup to face the Bruins on Saturday after missing two games due to an undisclosed injury. Here’s what you need to know:
- Matthews didn’t play against the Predators on Wednesday and also sat out Toronto’s game versus the Red Wings on Thursday.
- Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Wednesday that Matthews was playing through an injury that’s been “lingering for a while.”
- The 25-year-old has appeared in 41 games this season, totaling 20 goals and 27 assists.
Backstory
Matthews is on pace for around 40 goals and over 90 points this season, but he hasn’t looked like his past self. Last season he won the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player after scoring 60 goals — the highest in the NHL since 2012 and the most ever in the 105-year history of the Maple Leafs — and tallying 46 assists. He also captured the Rocket Richard Trophy for the second time and earned the Ted Lindsey Award.
Entering the game against Boston, Toronto is third in the Eastern Conference with a 26-10-7 record. The Bruins (32-5-4) lead the way while the Hurricanes (26-9-7) sit just above the Maple Leafs.
What happened to Matthews?
After Saturday’s morning skate, Matthews declined to get into details about the injury.
“I don’t think I really need to get into specifics. It’s something that’s been nagging me for a little bit. It’s definitely been fine to play through. It just ramped up a little bit. I just wanted to get it to calm down. I’m feeling much better. I’m looking forward to playing and getting in tonight.”
Matthews said the injury impacts “little things, little details” about the way he plays, which certainly makes it sound like the injury isn’t all that serious. He called the injury “manageable” and that he’s dealt with it “on and off for a little while.”
“I don’t feel like it’s affected me to the point that I couldn’t play up until a couple of days ago where it blew up on me a little bit,” said Matthews. — Kloke
Concern level going forward
It doesn’t sound like there’s much cause for concern about this injury moving forward. We’re at the point in the season when players across the league are dealing with nagging but minor injuries, “bumps and bruises” as Matthews put it, and he’s no different.
Now, it’s logical to wonder if this lingering injury has impacted the way Matthews has played this season, most notably his offensive production. The reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner scored a torrid 0.82 goals per game last year for 60 goals in 73 games. This season, those numbers are down to 0.49 goals per game, or 20 goals in 41 games.
“I have high expectations for myself. But at the same time, the way we’ve been playing as a team this year, defensively especially, that speaks to our growth as a team,” said Matthews. “That’s really the main focus, is making sure those habits and details are dialed in every single night.”
Even with his goal production having declined from last season, Matthews has looked more aggressive and effective defensively, which he says has been a team focus from the start of training camp.
“If you expect to play a long time in the spring and go a long ways, offensively, I think we can take care of that, but obviously defensively, all five guys that are on the ice, goaltending, (we need) to make sure everyone is on the same page,” said Matthews. — Kloke
Required reading
(Photo: Dan Hamilton / USA Today)
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