Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will not play in Wednesday’s contest against the Florida Panthers.
It doesn’t sound like Auston Matthews is quite ready to return to the #leafs lineup tonight. Still needs a few more skates to get back up to speed. Saturday’s game in Tampa remains a possibility.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 27, 2024
Matthews returned to practice Wednesday after taking part in Sunday’s morning skate, prior to Toronto’s game against the Seattle Kraken. He has been skating and shooting with his usual velocity, and it appears likely that Matthews will return from his injury-related absence Sunday, when the Maple Leafs take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“I think the individual skates were much different than a team practice, so this being kind of like the first actual team practice I’ve skated in, I’ve felt really good, but I might need maybe one or two to really get my legs and lungs back under me,” Matthews said after Tuesday’s practice.
Matthews has recorded five goals and 11 points 13 games. Toronto has compiled a 7-1 record in his absence, leading the Atlantic Division.
Toronto’s star forward did not receive reps on the team’s power play units at practice, David Alter of The Hockey News reports. Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander, Alex Nylander and Morgan Rielly took reps on the first power play unit, while Bobby McMann, Fraser Minten, Nick Robertson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Timmins took reps with the second group.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters Tuesday he’s not inclined to reunite Matthews with Marner, when he’s available to return. Marner, John Tavares and Bobby McMann has formed an tremendously effective first line in Matthews’ absence, while William Nylander continues to star on Toronto’s second line with a rotating cast — he’s expected to play with Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg on Wednesday.
“The line has been very good, both defensively and offensively. They are doing a really good job there. I feel really reluctant to just put Mitch and Matty back there,” Berube explained.
It’s a four-point night between the two Atlantic Division powers as Toronto enters on a four-game winning streak, holding a three-point lead with a game in hand over the defending Stanley Cup champions prior to Wednesday’s contest.
