Auston Matthews feeling great after 6-game absence, honoured by Leafs’ quarter-century selection

Auston Matthews had missed 15 games throughout this season, nursing a mysterious upper-body injury, and with a little help from his friends, his return to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup was an overwhelming success.

Matthews made his triumphant return to Toronto’s lineup Saturday night against the rival Boston Bruins, and it sparked the top line, to say the very least. Mitch Marner, Matthew Knies and Matthews combined for a whopping 13 points against the Bruins, led by Knies’ first career hat-trick. Considering the Leafs were expecting a playoff-style physical contest against Boston, it was a great sign to see Matthews feel healthy enough to get back in the mix with his teammates, on the first night of a back-to-back.

“We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game going into it,” Matthews said post game. “Obviously it took 60 minutes, so happy I think with the performance tonight from everybody just staying with it and bearing down. I felt good, my linemates made it pretty easy for me tonight too. The chemistry was there. I thought we were working all three zones pretty good and finding each other in good spots.”

Matthews finished the night playing 17:32 of ice-time, down over three minutes from his season average. His load management is certainly going to be something to follow the second half of the season. Matthews was engaged from puck drop, he was battling physically, and there didn’t appear to be any hesitation in his game throughout his return.

Matthews was reunited on the top line with Marner and Knies, and both of his linemates had themselves a game, collecting five points each against the Bruins. While Marner has been known to breakout on occasion, the spotlight was on Knies after the victory,  who burst out of a mini-slump, and showcased his entire toolbox against the Leafs’ rivals.

“I’m happy for him, he played awesome and got rewarded for just a great game all around at both ends of the ice,” Matthews said postgame. “I think tonight he showed the potential he has and he is just going to continue to get better.”

Not only was it a big night on the ice for Matthews in his return, as he chipped in with an empty-net goal and two assists, the Leafs’ captain was named to the Maple Leafs quarter-century team, alongside Marner, Mats Sundin, Tomas Kaberle, Morgan Rielly and Ed Belfour.

“I think it means a lot, with obviously the history of the franchise. We’re in our ninth season here, it’s obviously special to be a part of a storied franchise like this and to wear the Maple Leaf every day. It’s not something anybody takes for granted. To be in the same conversation as Mats Sundin is a great honour.”

Matthews and the Maple Leafs get right back to it, welcoming the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.