Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs’ John Tavares, Matthew Knies will officially return vs. Oilers

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Arun Srinivasan | Last updated Feb 1, 2025 12:33 PM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards John Tavares and Matthew Knies will officially return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Craig Berube confirmed.

Tavares left practice with a lower-body injury on January 15 after getting tangled up with Chris Tanev during a power play drill. He was expected to miss 2-3 weeks. Tavares has recorded 20 goals and 42 points in 44 games, and is in the middle of a resurgent campaign.

Knies suffered an upper-body injury after colliding with Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko on January 22. He was considered day-to-day. Knies is amid a breakout season, with 18 goals and 31 points in 47 games, where he’s been a fixture on the top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, where they control 54.3 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5.

Tavares and Knies were both full participants in Friday’s practice, and took part on the team’s top play unit, alongside Matthews, Marner and William Nylander.

Berube has emphasized that he wants two power forwards near the net-front in his optimal set up, and it could inject some life for Toronto’s dormant power play, which is clicking at a 21.4 percent clip, good for 15th in the league. These aren’t terrible numbers in a vacuum, but given the collection of talent on the man advantage, along with the dearth of secondary scoring, it’s been a source of consternation for Leafs fans.

Fraser Minten and Ryan Reaves will be among the healthy scratches for Saturday’s game. Reaves delivered an illegal hit to the head on Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse in the last matchup between both clubs, earning a five-game suspension.