Auston Matthews gives the media a piece of his mind amid injury "secrecy"

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Will Bloggs
November 30, 2024 (10:57)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are getting a big boost as Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies return to the lineup just in time for Saturday's game against the Lightning.

As reported by Sportsnet,, Auston Matthews missed nearly a month due to an undisclosed injury but practiced with energy and excitement, though he admitted there may be some rust to his form.

His return will surely help Toronto's offense, and Matthews addressed the speculation about his trip to Munich for treatment.

«I don't think there's really any secrecy. Like, I don't think we did anything outside of the rules of providing information to you guys and the NHL. So I think it just gets a little bit blown out of proportion with the marketplace and you guys being a little bit nosy,» Matthews said.

«I think it's my choice whether or not I want to share the extent of injury. And I mean, you look around the league, (it's) 'lower-body injury,' 'upper-body injury' on every single team. So I think it's just been made out to be a bigger deal than it is. And, I mean, I don't really care. It's up for you guys to talk about it and do your thing. But in the end, I'm just going to focus on myself and focus on the team and being the best that I can.»

Matthew Knies missed two games after a hard hit from Vegas defenseman Zach Whitecloud and acknowledged he put himself in a vulnerable position.

Toronto's power play, which struggled early this season, is also seeing adjustments with the return of these two key players in the lineup.

The Leafs will face the Lightning, who are coming off back-to-back games and giving Toronto a possible edge on them.

Alex Nylander is expected to sit as a healthy scratch, while Jani Hakanpää remains out despite speculation that he might be in the lineup.

Maple Leafs projected lineup Saturday in Tampa Bay:

Knies - Matthews - Nylander
Holmberg - Tavares - Marner
Roberson - Minten - Lorentz
Steeves - Dewar - Grebenkin

Rielly - Ekman-Larsson
McCabe - Tanev
Benoit - Timmins

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The Maple Leafs are coming into this game having won seven of their last nine, and boast a record of 13-7-2.

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NOVEMBRE 30 \| 142 ANSWERS Auston Matthews gives the media a piece of his mind amid injury "secrecy" Do you believe Auston Matthews will get a goal for the Maple Leafs tonight?
YES	82	57.7 %
NO	60	42.3 %
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