Matthews didn’t take part in morning skate before the 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabers on Dec. 20, but he scored and played 19:18 that evening. During this game, he suffered two solid hits – one from forward Tage Thompson in the first period as well as a double check from defenseman Dennis Gilbert in the third period.
“They’re different things, but I would say the checking didn’t help me,” Matthews revealed. Rest helps me. I’m not someone who likes to be inactive for long, so I try to do what I can without overworking myself. You try to stay in the best physical condition possible when you can’t skate. »
Matthews missed nine games in November with the upper-body injury before returning to action on November 30 in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. During his recovery, he traveled to Germany for five days to meet with a doctor he and other Maple Leafs players had seen before. Matthews has been dealing with this injury since he was absent during the preseason.
Matthews added that he doesn’t know if he will be able to shake off this problem at some point in the season.
“I don’t know,” he said. I hope so, because that’s obviously the goal. These things are complicated. Hockey is robust, so you don’t control everything that happens on the ice. You try to manage it as best as possible. »
Neither Matthews nor Berube offered specifics on the nature of the injury. Berube, however, indicated that it is not related to the wrist injury that required surgery during the 2021 off-season.
Matthews had 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 11 games after returning to action in late November, helping Toronto go 8-3-0 during that stretch. He ranks fourth on his team with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games this season.
“There’s nothing better than having our captain back, one of the best players in the world, a unique player who does so much for us all over the ice,” Tavares said. Nobody can score goals like him, so we’re excited. I know there were ups and downs for him and it was frustrating at times, but he persevered to stay ready and he’s excited today too. »
Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals last season, a career high, and he had at least 40 goals in each of his previous five seasons. Since entering the NHL in 2016-17, Matthews is first with 379 goals.
The Maple Leafs (24-13-2) were 7-2-0 without Matthews in November, but are 3-3-0 since he was sidelined again.
“It’s not always going to be pretty, but you have to find a way to win, whether it’s through your goalies or your special teams,” Matthews said. It won’t be perfect every night. Good teams find a way to win and obviously you want to win in a variety of ways. We showed we can do it, and tonight’s game will be another test for us against a good team in our section. »
