Sat Jan 04 17:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Maple Leafs Captain Auston Matthews Returns From Injury Against Bruins
**Toronto, ON -** Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will return to the lineup Saturday night against the Boston Bruins after missing six games due to a reaggravated upper-body injury. The injury, initially sustained in November, forced him to miss nine games earlier in the season.
Matthews, who participated in the morning skate and power-play drills, expressed excitement about his return. Coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed Matthews will center a line with Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner. John Tavares will center another line in Matthews’ absence.
“It’s exciting,” Matthews said. “It’s never fun watching, so I’m excited to be back.” Keefe praised Matthews’ impact, stating his return provides more options and elevates the team’s pace of play.
The injury was reaggravated on December 20th after taking two hard hits during a game against the Buffalo Sabres. While he acknowledges the hits didn’t help, Matthews emphasized rest and careful management of his injury as key to his recovery. He also recently visited a doctor in Germany for consultation.
The Leafs went 7-2-0 without Matthews in November and 3-3-0 during his latest absence. Keefe indicated he will monitor Matthews’ ice time to ensure he doesn’t overexert himself. Matthews himself admitted he’s unsure if the issue will be resolved completely this season, given the physical nature of the sport.
Despite the setbacks, Matthews has recorded 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games this season. His return is a significant boost for the Leafs as they face a tough divisional opponent in the Bruins.
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