As the Maple Leafs work their way through various injuries, keep in mind a rather crucial silver lining.
With Auston Matthews producing at the rate that he is — nine goals in 10 games since returning from an upper-body injury, putting him on an eye-popping 74-goal pace in an 82-game season — there’s no doubt about his health and the fact that he looks like his usual self.
“I see the speed and the pace of the game he is playing with,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said after practice on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre. “He looks like he is really healthy. Strong on pucks, physical, winning battles. He’s using his shot, but it’s the speed and pace he is playing at, for me, that I notice the most.”
Important, too, considering the Leafs’ next opponent, the Ottawa Senators, on the road on Saturday night. Matthews has 24 goals in 33 career games against the Sens, and has scored more goals in his National Hockey League career against only the Montreal Canadiens (28 goals in 36 games).
And Matthews’ next goal will be his 389th in the NHL, tying him with Darryl Sittler for second-most in Leafs history. Mats Sundin has the franchise record with 420. For now.
Some further Matthews production against a Sens team that has been shut out five times in 11 games in January likely would tilt the latest Battle of Ontario in the Leafs’ favour.
“I’ve been feeling good, so that’s the most important part,” Matthews said of his injury, which apparently no longer is lingering. “I want to keep it that way and keep progressing.
“It’s always a fun atmosphere in there, and always a lot of pride between the two hockey cities, hockey towns. These are big games, big points.”
There was a positive regarding the Leafs’ long list of injured players, now numbering seven.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz was on the ice for part of practice for the first time since he had a knee procedure done on Dec. 18, and winger Matthew Knies, who suffered an upper-body injury against Columbus on Wednesday, skated before practice.
Though Berube said Stolarz is “maybe a little bit ahead of schedule,” the netminder’s participation falls in line with the original prognosis from Leafs general manager Brad Treliving, that Stolarz would miss four-to-six weeks. Next Wednesday will be the six-week mark since Stolarz went under the knife in New York.
“We’re going to have to see him more and get him in full practices, but he’s in a good spot right now,” Berube said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a whole lot longer (before Stolarz plays again).”
On Knies and his day-to-day status, Berube said: “I don’t know how long it will be (until Knies returns), it’s tough to tell right now.”
Berube made a lineup change that came naturally with Knies out, moving Bobby McMann up to the top line to play with Matthews and Mitch Marner. McMann’s physicality, straight-line approach and scoring touch aren’t far off the impact that Knies was making before he got hurt.
“Similar player,” Berube said. “He has great speed and he should be doing the same things that Kniesy did, get in there on the forecheck, create loose pucks, go to the net, all the work there. He has done that throughout the season, so it could be a good fit.”
McMann addressed his promotion in the lineup matter-of-factly.
“Nothing really changes,” McMann said. “Try to continue my game, what has been affective for me and hopefully that supports those guys. I can compete and retrieve pucks and they will make plays.”
Max Domi will get a look on the left wing on a line with Pontus Holmberg and William Nylander, and will be on the No. 1 power-play unit. On the fourth line, Jacob Quillan is slated to make his NHL debut.
Goalie Matt Murray, recalled from the Toronto Marlies, will back up Joseph Woll.
Matthews has been performing with the kind of scoring dominance that propelled him to scoring a franchise-record 69 goals in 81 games in 2023-24. He has scored in eight of 10 games since returning as well as in each of the past five games.
In total, Matthews has 20 goals in 34 games this season.
“Every time it’s on his stick, I’m expecting it to go in, just like last year, where it was like he couldn’t miss,” Leafs winger Ryan Reaves said. “It looked like he was playing a video game out there, and it looks like he’s doing it again. It’s good to see.”
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