Matthews has scored 23 goals in 50 games this season, well below last year's total. Jan 11, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1d3d1a89-f8a7-48c6-8b45-dc4437ba2410.webp] Jan 11, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Auston Matthews didn't participate in the Maple Leafs' full morning skate on Saturday, but his status against the Ottawa Senators isn't in doubt. "Just rest," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of why Matthews didn't skate. It's been a busy month-and-a-half for the 27-year-old, who had pretty much been on the road since the end of January, with Toronto's road trips and the 4 Nations Face-Off. David Kampf centered Matthew Knies and Max Domi on Saturday morning, but with Matthews remaining in the lineup, Kampf will come out, per Berube. With Marner going to Tavares' wing, Toronto wanted to slot another playmaker in with Matthews, and that was Domi: "He's played with Auston before and he's a good playmaker," added Berube. "And, it's important that Auston has a playmaker on his line." The Maple Leafs played one game at home, on March 3, against the San Jose Sharks, before returning to the road to play in Vegas, Denver, and Utah. Matthews, as well, has only scored one goal in his last five games and hasn't been finding the back of the net at his usual rate this season. Toronto's captain, who put up 69 goals in 81 games last season, only has 23 through 15 games this year. His 0.46 goals-per-game this season is the lowest of his career, slightly below his 0.49 goals-per-game in his rookie year. However, that average could change by the end of this year, and it wouldn't be surprising if it did either. "It weighs on everybody. A player like that, he wants to help the team by putting the puck in the net. Listen, I said it before, he's getting the opportunities. That hasn't really changed from last year," Berube said on Saturday morning. "It's just, it's not going in as much this year. But his overall game for me, I go off last game, he did a great job defensively going up against (Aleksander) Barkov, who's one of the best in the league. He's doing a lot of good things. We just got to stick with it, like the goal scoring, he's getting the chances. He's got to keep shooting and we need him to play 200 feet." Although the goals haven't been going in, Berube is right. Matthews is playing a strong 200-foot game. According to NaturalStatTrick.com [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=TOR&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL], Matthews' 53.65 expected-goals-for at five-on-five is the best on the Maple Leafs this season. "Yeah, I mean, he's been playing some great hockey. I think a lot of people just look at us and want us to get points every single night, and, that's all they care about," said Mitch Marner on Saturday morning, citing his defensive game has still been strong. "He's been playing a great defensive game, his PK's been pretty special for us as well. He means a lot to us on that ice, regardless if he's scoring goals or not. So, they'll eventually start falling, and that's something you don't gotta worry about. You know it'll come." Toronto has three more games in their homestand, including against Ottawa on Saturday. The Maple Leafs face the Calgary Flames on Monday and the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday before heading back out on the road. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] to never miss a story.
