Leafs' Matthews out Saturday; Nylander works at C with Domi absent
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Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews will not be available for Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports.
"Given the Leafs schedule the extra time off aligns with Toronto’s focus to get their captain 100 per cent healthy," Dreger wrote on X Friday.
The decision means the 2022 Hart Trophy winner will not go head-to-head with three-time Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Edmonton on Feb. 1.
Nylander works at C with Leafs depth being tested
Maple Leafs forward Max Domi did not participate in the team's practice Friday as he receives a maintenance day.
With both Matthews and Domi absent, the Maple Leafs tested new lines with William Nylander working at centre between Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson.
"He's really good in the face-up dot," head coach Craig Berube said of Nylander. "He's like 55 per cent on the year, which is good. He was fine in the middle today. He looked good to me."
Domi also received a maintenance day on Monday, but played on both Tuesday and Wednesday for the Maple Leafs. Berube said Domi is expected to dress once again for Saturday's game.
"He's obviously fighting through something too, but he'll be good to go tomorrow," Berube told reporters. "It's just maintenance more for him right now"
The 29-year-old forward has six assists in 18 games this season as he plays under the first year of a four-year, $15 million contract extension signed in June.
No Setback for Matthews
Matthews last played on Nov. 3, when the Maple Leafs lost 2-1 in overtime against the Minnesota Wild. He skated over the weekend but has not skated the past two days.
Berube maintained Matthews has not had a setback in his recovery.
"Normal. No setbacks ... We got two games in a long stretch here of time so we're just letting him recover," Berube said after Friday's skate.
"[The injury] is just not getting to where it needs to get to," Berube said earlier this week. "So, we're just trying to manage it and just trying to make sure when he comes back, he's good and 100 per cent."
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reported Thursday that the hope for the Maple Leafs is that Matthews is able to return fully healthy and no longer bothered by the ailment.
"I can tell you there is some optimism here," Johnston said on Insider Trading. "Not only is his recovery believed to be moving in the right direction, but there is a feeling that when he does return, he will be completely over this issue, that this rest period will basically eliminate the issue entirely for Auston Matthews.
"The schedule is also in the favour of the Leafs at this point in time. They played already five back-to-backs this year, but right now they only have three games in 13 days. And so that gives a nice window here for Matthews to ramp himself up through practice and eventually return to the lineup."
Following Saturday's game, the Maple Leafs will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday and the Utah Hockey Club next Sunday.
In 13 games this season, Matthews has five goals and 11 points. He led all goal scorers a season ago, when he finished with 69 - the most in a single season since Mario Lemieux finished with 69 in the 1995-96 season.