Matthews to return for Maple Leafs

TORONTO -- Auston Matthews will return to the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, NBCSCA, NHL.TV).

The 21-year-old center missed 14 games because of an injury to his left shoulder sustained when he was hit by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba while trying to go to the net during a 3-2 Toronto win Oct. 27.
Matthews had worn a regular jersey during practice Tuesday and took part in some battle drills.
"It feels like forever but it's just nice to be back with the team," Matthews said. "Obviously we've been playing really well lately, but just to be back in the lineup, it's very exciting for myself and I'm just going to try to keep things simple."
Matthews had been centering left wing Patrick Marleau and right wing Kasperi Kapanen when he was injured, but coach Mike Babcock said he was unsure who Matthews would skate with Wednesday.
"Felt really good with them," Matthews said of Marleau and Kapanen. "Especially Kapanen joining us a couple games in. I think we developed some pretty good chemistry. We all bring different things to the table but I think all of us want to play fast, use each other out there as much as possible and play in the offensive zone."

Said Kapanen, "I thought it was pretty good and we were playing well together. It's just something that clicked I guess. I'm sure he's pretty happy to be coming back. It's not fun, obviously long injuries … I've been lucky enough just to have one and it felt like forever."

Babcock said there were no ice time limitations for Matthews.
"I'm just going to play him and see what happens," Babcock said. "Then at the end of the night … I try to do what I think is right and then at the end, whatever they've got, they've got."
Center Frederik Gauthier will come out of the lineup to make room for Matthews.
Matthews returned to practice in a non-contact jersey Nov. 18, but he had been skating regularly on his own while recovering. But not having played in 32 days, he said he will try to keep things simple early on.
"Try not to get too far ahead of myself, I haven't played in a game in over a month so I've still got to kind of find my game back and get my legs back under me, pace of play, timing and everything," Matthews said. "I think that just comes back over time, but especially that first period, I'm just going to try to keep things simple and not get too fancy or cute."
The Maple Leafs are 17-8-0 this season, and 9-5-0 without Matthews, who has 16 points (10 goals, six assists) in 11 games.
"He's a good player, he's got good speed through the middle," Babcock said. "He can shoot the puck, he's a committed guy. Anytime you've missed hockey it's going to be hard to sustain it day after day, so the conditioning part is going to have to come back. But he's ready."
The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, Matthews has 148 points (84 goals, 64 assists) in 155 games through three seasons with Toronto.