The Toronto Maple Leafs finally received good news on the injury front, as Auston Matthews will make his return to the Maple Leafs lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. Matthews missed the New Jersey Devils game Tuesday night with a lower-body injury. The injury occurred during Sunday night’s loss against the Detroit Red Wings as Matthews blocked a shot during the second period and remained in the game. This is a big boost for the Maple Leafs as they are right in the thick of the playoff race with half of their season remaining.
Must-Win Game Against the Jets
The Maple Leafs will faceoff against the struggling Jets, who have lost their last seven games in a row. The Jets, following their 2-1 loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, have fallen to last place in the Central Division. This almost feels like a must-win for a Maple Leafs squad that is trying to push back into a playoff spot after a terrible start to the season. The Maple Leafs currently sit four points behind the Buffalo Sabres for the final Wild Card spot. With how the team has been trending, a hot week or two could see the Maple Leafs right back in the mix very soon.
Auston Matthews Return
The return of Auston Matthews will be crucial for a desperate Maple Leafs team. If Matthews were to miss time due to his injury, we could have seen the Maple Leafs’ season come to an end. The Leafs captain hasn’t played his best hockey this season, as he is on pace for his lowest point total since his rookie season, but as of late, it looks as if he has been trending in the right direction. He has seemed to build some chemistry with linemates Max Domi and Bobby McMann. Bobby McMann has been the hottest player on the Maple Leafs. During December, he has scored the most goals on the Leafs. McMann’s success can be attributed to playing alongside Matthews.
The Maple Leafs Injury Status
The Maple Leafs will be without William Nylander for a third straight contest. Nylander who was injured against the Ottawa Senators has returned back on the ice ahead of the Maple Leafs practice on Thursday morning. It is tough to say what caused Nylander’s lower-body injury as it seemed to be an awkward play with Sens defenceman Artum Zub.
Chris Tanev and Dakota Joshua will still look to remain out long-term. Joshua has had a good couple of weeks for the Maple Leafs, and finally looked as if his spot in the lineup. Chris Tanev who has only suited up in 11 games this season, is dealt another big blow. The Leafs are fortunate that it’s not related to his previous head and neck injuries. For a 36 year-old defenceman another upper-body injury could be career threatening. Brandon Carlo has been making progress and will look to get back into the Leafs lineup soon. Carlo hasn’t played since November 13th and underwent foot surgery on December 1st. Berube mentioned the recovery time will be about a month from the time of the surgery.
The Maple Leafs will look to add another win to the win column Thursday against the Jets with the help of Auston Matthews.
Main photo by: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images