Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews could be in the lineup against the New York Rangers when the teams take the ice on Saturday.
Matthews, who missed the past six games because of a concussion, said Friday that a decision will be made after the morning skate.
“I think it’s just talking with the training staff,” Matthews said after participating in his first practice since getting injured. “No decision is going to be made until tomorrow. I’m definitely feeling a lot better. I feel good out there on the ice. Obviously just trying to get my legs back.”
Matthews was injured when he collided with Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly during the third period of Toronto’s a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 9th.
“I think just later on after Pittsburgh, just colliding with Morgan and then later on that night, the next day, I wasn’t feeling very well,” Matthews said, when discussing the injury with reporters on Friday.
“Just normal concussion symptoms, I guess. Don’t need to go any farther than that.”
“Just like last time, it’s nice to get back out there with the whole team and get skating again,” said Matthews.
Matthews leads the team this season with 26 points, including 13 goals and 13 assists, in 26 games and Toronto is not the same team when he is out of the lineup.
“It’s very frustrating,” Matthews said.
“You never like missing games and two back-to-back injuries like that where you miss time, it [stinks]. Obviously the main thing is to be healthy. That’s my main concern, and obviously the training staff and everybody else’s, so like I said, I feel good and it feels good to get back on the ice.”
