Tavares just reached the 20-goal mark for the 15th time in his NHL career. Does the Leafs center get enough credit for his ability to score? The Toronto Maple Leafs are approaching the home stretch before a two-week break in their schedule and the potential return of John Tavares and Matthew Knies couldn’t come at a better time. Ahead of Tuesday’s full practice, both players were spotted putting in work in grey jerseys, further signaling their recovery timelines are progressing. Following the on-ice session, head coach Craig Berube expressed optimism about their availability for the Leafs’ upcoming four-game road trip, starting Saturday in Edmonton. When asked about the likelihood of both players joining the road trip, Berube replied, “I do.” On Monday, ahead of the club’s annual outdoor practice, Berube had mentioned that Tavares and Knies were among the skaters who stayed back to practice at Ford Performance Centre. Tavares skated for the first time since sustaining his lower-body injury in a practice on January 16. "I think later in the week, he could be on the ice with us, but maybe that's guessing a little bit," said Berube on Monday. The injury, which occurred during a power-play drill, sidelined the veteran forward for the past five games. Despite the setback, Tavares has been a consistent contributor for the Maple Leafs this season, recording 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 44 games. Knies’ progress has also been closely monitored. The forward was injured on January 22 in a 5-1 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets, leaving the contest in the second period with an upper-body ailment following a collision with Kirill Marchenko [https://x.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1882257132596363705] – falling awkwardly in front of the Leafs’ bench. Berube elaborated further on Knies’ timeline after practice on Tuesday, saying, “I think he’s close,” explained Berube. “I mean, he’s getting feeling. It’s improving every day. He’s out there today, he’s doing more and more. I thought I might see him in our practice a little bit, but that was not the case today.” Knies’ presence with 18 goals and 13 assists in 47 games this season, was missed against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in a low-scoring 2-1 outcome. With both Tavares and Knies trending in the right direction, the team hopes their return is near – providing a boost during their upcoming road stretch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNjM5NDEwNTc4NDM0MDI0/googlenews.svg] 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.
