Auston Matthews Returns: mThe Toronto Maple Leafs are getting a big boost to their lineup for Thursday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, as captain Auston Matthews is returning to action.
Matthews missed the Leafs last game against the New Jersey Devils after blocking a shot last weekend against the Detroit Red Wings. He finished the game, but the swelling was too much the past few days, keeping Matthews out of the lineup against New Jersey. The Leafs went on to win the game 4-0, thanks to Joseph Woll standing on his head for the shutout.
Matthews has appeared in 33 games this season, scoring 15 goals and 12 assists, for 27 points. While his production is down offensively, Matthews continues to be one of the best two-way centers in the game and is obviously a huge part of the Leafs’ makeup under head coach Craig Berube’s defensive style of hockey.
Toronto takes on the Jets, who are last in the Western Conference, and looking for any spark to start the new year. The Leafs are sitting on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference wild-card spots, and have several teams to leap frog, all of which recorded points on Wednesday, so it won’t be easy sledding to gain ground.
Joseph Woll is once again expected to start in net, but the Maple Leafs will be without several key players including William Nylander, who is nursing a lower-body injury and skated before the team’s morning skate. Dakota Joshua is out long term with a kidney issue, and defencemen Brandon Carlo won’t play, as well as Chris Tanev, who could be out for the season due to a serious groin injury.
Matthews is back however, which is a huge boost for the Leafs, and look for him to try and gain some momentum ahead of the Olympics next month.
