UPDATE: Matthews cleared to go and will make his first start in nearly two weeks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs ended their 14-game winless streak against the Montreal Canadiens with a 4-3 overtime victory on October 14, thanks mostly to a two-goal performance by Auston Matthews.
The Leafs visit the Bell Centre for the final time this season on Saturday and may have their leading scorer back in the lineup. Matthews took the optional morning skate in Montreal on Saturday and Leafs head coach Mike Babcock indicated that him getting back into the lineup will be determined just before game-time.
Optional morning skate for Leafs in Montreal
Matthews on the ice for sixth straight day; status for tonight still to be determined pic.twitter.com/E2uvyXmkhs
Toronto is 4-0 without the 20-year-old center in the lineup, but have been heavily dependent on their goaltending to stay in the win column.
Frederik Andersen made 42 saves in a 1-0 overtime victory against New Jersey on Thursday and the Leafs #1 goalie will make his 18th start of the season, but unlike all of his games against the Habs, his opposition will not be Carey Price.
Price continues to be out of action with a knee injury and backup Al Montoya is out indefinitely with a concussion, rookie Charlie Lindgren will make his seventh straight start for Montreal.
The 23-year-old rookie had not allowed more than two goals in his first five games, but came down to earth on Thursday, allowing five goals on 32 shots in a 5-4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.
Defenseman Jordie Benn and forwards Jonathan Drouin and Max Pacioretty missed practice on Friday because of the flu, but took to the ice for an optional morning skate on Saturday.
If Matthews does return to the lineup, it is expected that Nikita Soshnikov will sit and Connor Brown will return to the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Matt Martin.
*******
The Maple Leafs signing of Josh Leivo on Friday was puzzling to some, since the 24-year-old winger has been a healthy scratch for most of the last season and all but five games this year, but the one-year, $925,000 contract provides security for the player and gives Toronto options.
With the extension, any concern over Leivo becoming a Group VI unrestricted free agent disappears. The winger would have to clear waivers to be sent down to the American Hockey League and there is some thought that an extra year under contract would desuade teams from putting in a claim.
More than likely, the additional year was done to make Leivo a more attractive trade commodity to another club or to lock him in place through next season, with the Leafs potentially allowing James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and/or Leo Komarov to leave via free agency.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»