After missing nine games with an upper-body injury, Auston Matthews has come back and is putting the puck in the net? Is he fully back or will it be a long road ahead? PITTSBURGH — Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wasn’t entirely sure how Max Pacioretty would fit into the lineup. But by the time warmups ended, it was clear the veteran forward wouldn’t be eased back into action. Out since Nov. 9 due to a lower-body injury sustained against the Montreal Canadiens, Pacioretty made his return from long-term injured reserve, slotting into the top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Ultimately, his game may be best remembered for two consecutive second-period penalties for roughing Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. “You don’t want to be in the box, not to say I completely agree with it all,” Pacioretty said after Toronto’s 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. “But, you know, that’s the way the game goes sometimes. I got to be probably smarter there. But, you know, the right intent is there. I just got to be a bit more disciplined.” Before his injury, Pacioretty had played a top-six role, but this was his first time lining up with Matthews and Marner. The line delivered early, scoring a first-period goal when Marner muscled in front of the net to grab a loose puck off a shot from Oliver Ekman-Larsson. “I thought we were moving our feet well, created O-zone time, made some good plays around the net and throughout the zones,” Marner said of Pacioretty’s impact on the line. Berube noted that Pacioretty’s performance declined toward the end, which was expected after such a long layoff. At 36, Pacioretty was focused on being a physical presence while helping to create opportunities for Matthews and Marner. One game may not be enough to determine if Pacioretty is the right fit for the top line. Matthew Knies, who was shifted to play with John Tavares and William Nylander, excelled in his new role on the left wing and could earn a chance to reunite with his former linemates. Pacioretty, who signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs worth $1.5 million if he plays 35 games or more this season, is working to regain his form after recovering from two torn Achilles injuries.
