Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews informed the media that he is set to make his return from an upper-body injury in Saturday night’s matchup against the visiting Boston Bruins. “I think the last couple of skates I’ve had, I’ve felt good. I’ve made progress throughout those and feeling confident day-by-day,” Matthews shared during Saturday morning’s press conference. “It’s exciting. Obviously, it’s never fun watching, so I’m excited to get back in.”
Matthews had initially missed nine games in November due to the upper-body injury. The former recipient of the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP made his return on November 30, but unfortunately, aggravated the injury during a 6-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on December 20. As a result, he has been sidelined for the past six games.
Reflecting on his recovery process, Matthews, aged 27, mentioned after a practice session on Wednesday that he was hopeful to observe further improvements as the week progressed. However, he also noted the uncertainty surrounding a complete recovery, even with extended rest. “It’s tricky with these things sometimes,” Matthews remarked. “It’s a physical sport. It’s a contact sport. Things happen out there sometimes that are out of your control. Just try to manage it as best as I can, and that we can, and you just go from there.”
The absence of Matthews has significantly impacted the Maple Leafs as they have struggled to replace his elite level of production. In the previous season, his remarkable 47 goals were the most scored by an NHL player since Mario Lemieux’s 69 goals during the 1995-96 campaign. In the 2021-2022 season, Matthews has recorded 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 games played.
The anticipation of Matthews’ return has been met with enthusiasm and high hopes from the Maple Leafs organization and their fans. The team is eager to have their star player back on the ice, contributing to their efforts to secure victories and climb the standings.
As Matthews prepares to rejoin his teammates on the ice, the Maple Leafs and their supporters are looking forward to witnessing his impact on the game and the team’s performance. With his scoring prowess and leadership qualities, Matthews’ return is anticipated to provide a significant boost to the Maple Leafs as they strive for success in the ongoing NHL season.
