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Toronto Maple Leafs
Austin Matthews will be a game-time decision for the Maple Leafs when they play the Boston Bruins on Saturday (7 pm ET; NHLN, CBC, SNO, SNW, NESN, SN NOW).
The center has missed the past two games. He did not play in a 2-1 win against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday or a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings because of an undisclosed injury.
“He woke up sick today, too, which complicated things so we’re not quite sure exactly where he is,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said Thursday. “… We’ll see where we are at on Saturday.”
Matthews last played Sunday, when he had a goal and four shots in 17:29 of ice time in a 6-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. Keefe said the injury was not something that occurred against the Flyers but something that has been “lingering for a while.”
Matthews had a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) prior to the injury and has 47 points (20 goals, 27 assists) in 41 games.
“Auston is one of the best players in the world, if not the best, so we’re obviously better when he’s in the lineup,” Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin said Thursday. “We worked hard tonight to try to make up for it, but he’s got big shoes to fill. If he’s out there tonight, he probably puts in a puck if not two, three or four.” — Dave McCarthy
St. Louis Blues
Nick Leddy is expected to return for the Blues whey then host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (8 pm ET; BSMW, BSSUN, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The defenseman, who has 11 assists in 39 games this season, has missed the past four games with an upper-body injury, took part in the morning skate Thursday but did not play in a 4-1 loss against the Calgary Flames. He practiced in full on Friday and was paired with Justin Faulk.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow after a practice today,” St. Louis coach Craig Berube said Friday. “He was fine. He looked good. I guess tomorrow morning will be a big tell sign.”
The Blues assigned defenseman Dmitri Samorukov to Springfield of the American Hockey League, meaning Leddy likely will return Saturday.
Berube also said forward Vladimir Tarasenko skated on his own prior to practice on Friday.
Tarasenko, who has 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 34 games this season, has missed the past six games after injuring his right hand Dec. 31 in a 5-2 loss against the Minnesota Wild.
He is expected to be reevaluated in four weeks. — Lou Korac
New Jersey Devils
Nathan Bastian could return for the Devils against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
The forward has been out since sustaining a shoulder injury in a 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Nov. 26. He has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 21 games this season.
Bastian returned to practice for the first time on Monday. He practiced again on Thursday before participating in the morning skate prior to the game against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday (10 pm ET; HULU, ESPN+, SN NOW).
“We’ve ramped up pretty well everything,” Devils coach Lindy Ruff said Friday. “It’s really just getting enough reps in and getting him comfortable, so you go kind of day to day and we’ll see where he’s at in the next couple days.”
Following the back-to-back games against the Ducks and Kings, the Devils conclude their five-game road trip against the San Jose Sharks on Monday and the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
Defenseman John Marino is also on the road trip and attending practice in a non-contact jersey. He has missed the past nine games with an upper-body injury.
Ruff said Marino is still “a little bit further away” than Bastian.
“Every day he’s out there is a step in the right direction,” Ruff said. –Dan Arritt
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