Auston Matthews is back in action with the Toronto Maple Leafs, gearing up for their clash against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fresh off an Olympic gold medal win with the U.S. men's national hockey team, where he served as captain, Matthews is riding a wave of triumph. Despite skipping the State of the Union, he joined the Leafs for an optional skate in Tampa Bay, ready to bring his winning momentum to the ice.
Leafs head coach Craig Berube shared his thoughts after Tuesday's practice, noting Matthews' high spirits and the plan to evaluate his readiness further. Matthews has been a powerhouse this season, racking up 26 goals and 48 points over 51 games.
In the crease, Anthony Stolarz is set to start. With a 7-7-1 record and an .882 save percentage, the 32-year-old goalie was stellar in his last outing before the Olympic break, stopping 34 shots in a victory over the Oilers.
John Tavares, another key player, is also expected to play after overcoming an illness. Tavares has been a consistent contributor, with 20 goals and 47 points in 57 games.
Easton Cowan, Dakota Joshua, and Philippe Myers are listed as healthy scratches for the matchup. Cowan, who hasn't seen game action since January 29, filled in on Matthews' line during practice.
The stakes are high for the Maple Leafs, sitting outside the playoff picture with 25 games left. Matthews faces the challenge of steering the team back into contention, starting with a formidable opponent in the Lightning.
Here's the projected lineup for the Leafs:
- Bobby McMann-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
- Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
- Matthew Knies-Nicolas Roy-Nick Robertson
- Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
On defense:
- Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
- Jake McCabe-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
- Simon Benoit-Troy Stecher
Goaltenders:
- Anthony Stolarz
- Joseph Woll
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