Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Scores First Goal Since Return from Injury, Beats Blackhawks 4-1

Leafs’ Star Player Returns to Form

Auston Matthews scored his first goal since returning from injury as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Monday night. Matthews, who missed nine games with an upper-body injury, opened the scoring in the first period before John Tavares, Fraser Minten, and Matthew Knies provided the rest of the offense for Toronto.

Strong Team Effort

Anthony Stolarz made 27 saves, and Mitch Marner had two assists in his 600th regular-season game. Lukas Reichel scored for Chicago, which has lost three straight, while Arvid Soderblom stopped 18 shots.

Matthews’ First Goal Since Return

Matthews, 27, beat Soderblom five-hole off a slick William Nylander feed for his sixth goal of the campaign. The 27-year-old center had missed nine games with an upper-body injury before picking up two assists in his return to the lineup on Saturday in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Takeaways

• Leafs: Jake McCabe sat out after taking a puck to the head Saturday. Defensemen Max Pacioretty, Max Domi, Bobby McMann, David Kampf, and Calle Jarnkrok were also sidelined.
• Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, the top pick at the 2023 draft, entered with goals in two of his last three contests following a 12-game drought.

Key Moment

Matthews’ goal, which came off a slick pass from Nylander, was a highlight of the game. The Leafs’ star player had led the NHL with 69 goals last season.

Key Stat

The Leafs had the league’s second-best points percentage in November (8-3-1, .708). Toronto also allowed the fewest goals against – 27, including just 15 at 5-on-5 – over that 12-game span.

Up Next

The Blackhawks start a two-game homestand against the Bruins on Wednesday, while the Maple Leafs host the Predators the same night.

Conclusion

The Maple Leafs’ victory was a much-needed boost for the team, with Matthews back in the lineup and contributing to the offense. The victory also extends the team’s winning streak to three games.

FAQs

• When did Auston Matthews return to the lineup?
  • Matthews returned to the lineup on Saturday in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• How many goals has Auston Matthews scored this season?
  • Matthews has scored six goals this season.
• What is the current winning streak for the Maple Leafs?
  • The Maple Leafs have won three consecutive games.