SUNRISE, Fla. – Auston Matthews is again, and so is the chase for 60.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ best centre and scorer will downside into the lineup Saturday as opposed to the Florida Panthers after lacking 3 video games with an undisclosed harm (the one trace: it’s one thing he has no longer handled earlier than).
“It’s by no means a laugh sitting out,” Matthews stated Saturday morning. “However you gotta take the great with the dangerous, and optimistically that little little bit of leisure used to be really useful.”
Matthews has been on a tear this 12 months, atmosphere the Leafs’ franchise report and main the Rocket Richard Trophy with 58 objectives, smashing the 100-point mark for the primary time in his occupation, and dominating far and wide the sheet.
“Giant a part of our lineup,” winger Mitch Marner stated. “Simply is helping the total self belief of our staff.”
Following wins over the lottery-bound Islanders and Flyers with out Matthews, Toronto’s self belief were given checked Thursday in Tampa, because the Maple Leafs suffered an 8-1 defeat to the Lightning, their maximum lopsided loss since 2016.
“The opposite evening wasn’t beautiful,” Matthews stated. “We were given our asses kicked. So, I’d love to suppose we are going to be an overly motivated staff this night to get again not off course.
“Those video games are going to be tough, however those are the precise video games I believe we’d like main as much as the playoffs.”
Whilst the Maple Leafs took Friday off to leisure up for this weekend’s back-to-back, Matthews skated Friday and were given in a bit of seek advice from with buddy and previous teammate Joe Thornton.
“He actually sought after to play this night,” trainer Sheldon Keefe stated. “He is not enjoying thru anything else nowadays. He is feeling just right.
“Clearly he’s an important participant for us, so no doubt provides us a spice up.”
Matthews defined that an harm suffered all through an ungainly collision all through remaining Saturday win in Ottawa gave him bother after the buzzer.
“When the adrenaline wears off, you get a greater sense of the place you’re at,” Matthews stated.
In gentle of all of the consideration Matthews receives from the opposition, a short lived respite from the wear and tear and tear of the 82-game grind may serve him and the staff neatly because the playoffs means.
“Mitch Marner neglected a just right stretch of time this 12 months with a [shoulder] harm, and we see what that is finished for him and the way he is performed since coming again,” Keefe reminded. “Break day and restoration time is actually laborious to return via within the NHL. It without a doubt is without doubt one of the of the positives that comes from accidents.”
The Maple Leafs will see how Matthews’ frame responds to motion in opposition to the red-hot Panthers, winners of a ludicrous 12 instantly, earlier than you make a decision on Sunday’s recreation in Washington.
“It is been a bit of bit tough simply looking to paintings thru it, however we now have were given a really perfect team of workers right here,” Matthews stated. “The verbal exchange has been nice and simply getting the entirety that I wish to assist me really feel higher. It is been a gorgeous forged week, so I think at ease getting again in this night.
One-Timers: Jake Muzzin won’t play Saturday. He’s been skating however has no longer noticed recreation motion since April 14. He’s a chance for Sunday at Washington. “He’s been feeling just right and progressing each day,” Keefe says…. Rasmus Sandin (knee) will have to be a complete player within the Maple Leafs’ practices subsequent week as he tries to go back earlier than the common season ends…. Sergei Bobrovsky as opposed to Jack Campbell is the goaltending matchup…. Jason Spezza will likely be scratched.
