"I just want to play hockey. I kind of know what to expect as far as conditioning; it's not totally going to be there, but hopefully throughout the first, second, third period I just got better and better, feel better and better after each period and just do what I do. I want to contribute in a number of different ways, just play my game and have fun."
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Matthews was injured when he collided with Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly with 2:50 remaining in the third period of a 4-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 9. Matthews returned to play two more shifts but said he was not feeling well later that night and the next day. He confirmed Friday he sustained a concussion in the collision.
Matthews said Friday he has been going through the NHL concussion protocol. He skated on his own for four days before practicing Friday, when he centered left wing Zach Hyman and right wing William Nylander.
"The way the injury was, he still was on the ice and still going," coach Mike Babcock said. "They got protocol for all these things so they went through all that protocol, but he still skated pretty good so it's not like he's been sitting around. Now, in saying all that, we're going to watch the game tonight and we'll know. I don't know at this point. I expect him to be good."
Matthews, who also missed four games from Nov. 8-16 with an upper-body injury, leads the Maple Leafs with 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 26 games. Toronto is 6-4-0 in the 10 games he has missed this season, but went 2-4-0 while he was out with the concussion and scored two goals or fewer in five of those games; the exception was an 8-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
"It's good to have him, period," Babcock said. "Any good players, you need them in your lineup as much as you can. Obviously, he's been off for a while and we look forward to having him back."
