Toronto Maple Leafs superstar center Auston Matthews took the ice for the club's optional morning skate on Saturday. But when will he return to game action? Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi is fighting through a lot right now. The forward hasn't registered a point in 13 straight games with the Maple Leafs, all while dealing with a couple of bumps and bruises that have made him miss two of Toronto's last three practices. He skated in the middle on the Maple Leafs' second line alongside Matthew Knies and William Nylander. "Max is fighting through a lot right now. He's banged up. I'm not overly concerned," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said following Tuesday's skate at Ford Performance Centre. Domi hasn't scored a goal yet this season. The last time he found the back of the net for Toronto, was in Game 2 of the Maple Leafs' first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. He hasn't scored in the regular season since April 6, when the Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Toronto is trying everything to get his scoring back, even putting him in the bumper position on the second power play unit, which Berube said was to help him use his shot more in the middle of the ice. "I think we got to keep working through it and we're trying to get him to get to the hard areas a bit more of the ice and get some goals there," said Berube. "He's got a good shot and I have full belief in Max that he'll be fine. He'll come around. Once one goes in for him, it'll come." The Maple Leafs are dealing with countless injuries at forward to begin the season. Toronto's captain Auston Matthews hasn't played since Nov. 3 due to an upper-body injury, Max Pacioretty has missed time with a lower-body injury, David Kampf just went on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, and Calle Jarnkrok will be out month-to-month after having groin and sports hernia surgery. Domi hasn't been able to come out of the lineup due to all of Toronto's injuries. Berube even admitted on Tuesday that if there weren't as many ailments, maybe Domi could have taken a game or two off. "Yeah, for sure. It's always a discussion with him to see where he's at and how he's feeling and things like that," the head coach said. Domi will have another chance at finding the back of the net on Wednesday night when the Maple Leafs host the Vegas Golden Knights. "We're going to have to work. We're going to have to really battle and work in the offensive zone. They got a good rush game, led by their top guy, (Jack) Eichel," Berube said. "It'll be a challenge, for sure."
