Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews made a triumphant return to the lineup on Saturday night after being sidelined for nine games due to an upper-body injury. Matthews, who last played on November 3rd against Minnesota, was activated off injured reserve for the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and made an immediate impact, notching a pair of assists in a 5-3 victory.
Speaking after the game, Matthews expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I felt fine. I think as the game went on I felt a little bit better. I still felt a little bit rusty, but I thought our line played pretty solid all around and simple for the most part.” This sentiment was echoed by Toronto coach Craig Berube, who praised Matthews for his strong play on both ends of the ice.
In his career, Matthews has a stellar record of 13 goals and six assists in 15 games when returning to the lineup, with Toronto boasting a 9-3-3 record in those contests. The captain’s impact was felt not only on the scoresheet but also in his overall play, as he won 16 of 24 faceoffs, finished as a plus-2 with two shots on goal, and registered two takeaways.
Prior to his injury, Matthews had been in fine form, tallying five goals and six assists in 13 games. Despite being listed as day-to-day during his recovery, it was revealed that he had sought treatment from a specialist in Germany to address the issue and prevent any recurrence once he returned to action.
Looking ahead, Matthews has already been named to the Team USA roster for the Four Nations Faceoff in February, underscoring his importance on the international stage. With their captain back in the fold and making an immediate impact, the Maple Leafs will be hoping to build on their strong start to the season and continue their push towards the playoffs.