TRYING THE JACKETS ON FOR SIZE
Columbus gets jump on Leafs, who lose fourth in five games
Leafs defenceman Roman Polak, right, collides with Jackets forward Sonny Milano on Wednesday in Columbus. The Leafs, playing for the second straight day, fell behind early and lost 4-2.
COLUMBUS, OHIO— Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews skated Wednesday like a player who was working on conditioning, not rehabbing an injury.
Matthews took to the ice during an optional morning skate with teammates Josh Leivo and Martin Marincin in a full-out session of skating and puck-handling drills.
It was a positive sign Matthews is getting closer to returning from the upper-body injury that has seen him miss six games in a row.
There are several potential scenarios:
He joins the rest of the team in a regular practice and possibly plays Saturday in New York against the Rangers; or.
The team takes advantage of the Christmas break and gets Matthews a few extra practices before his return, likely next Thursday in Phoenix (near his Scottsdale home).
At the moment, the Leafs are set to take the day off Thursday, following back-to-back games, and practise Friday before heading to New York.
The game at Madison Square Garden is the last before a four-day Christmas break. The Leafs are scheduled to fly to Arizona on Wednesday, and stage a practice there before the game against the Coyotes.
Matthews is nursing what has only officially been described as an upperbody injury but has variously been speculated to be a back injury or concussion-like symptoms.
Based on his skating Wednesday, Matthews appears to be able to take part in a full practice. The next step is waiting for clearance from the team’s medical staff.
The urgency of getting Matthews back into the lineup lessened somewhat Tuesday when several of his teammates broke slumps in an 8-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Mitch Marner notched a career-high four points, while William Nylander ended a long scoring drought.
“The number one thing with Mitch was he was ready to go (from the start of the game),” head coach Mike Babcock said Wednesday. “Then, the weight of the world, which (Marner) puts on himself, comes off. That shows you the kind of pressure you put on yourself, and make it hard for yourself.”