While injured Maple Leafs forward is inching closer to a return to game action, it won't come on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Though he shed his non-contact jersey during a practice on Monday with his Maple Leafs teammates, Matthews will not play against Tampa Bay on Tuesday when Toronto attempts to close the gap in the standings against its Atlantic Division rival. The Maple Leafs currently trail the Lightning by nine points with 10 games remaining in the regular season.
Matthews was a more active participant in practice as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury, but did not take part in regular line rushes nor was he used during power play drills. If he sits out Tuesday, it will be the 10th game he's missed due to this most recent injury. Head coach Mike Babcock did say that Matthews will travel with the team though on its upcoming road trip, terming Matthews' status 'day-to-day' and not ruling out the possibility he could return on the road trip Thursday against the Nashville Predators.
Also joining Matthews and Toronto on the road trip among the walking wounded will be Frederik Andersen, Leo Komarov, and Nikita Zaitsev.
Andersen (upper-body) sounds the closest to playing. The Maple Leafs sent goaltender Garret Sparks to the AHL Marlies on Monday, meaning Andersen will at least be in uniform on Tuesday in Tampa Bay. Whether he starts is still to be determined, Babcock said, and likely to be decided the day the game. Andersen has missed the past two games after sustaining his injury five days ago.
"I never though much about the injuries," Babcock said. "Guys get hurt and you have to play, and the biggest concern is when they get back, are they ready to play? Have they done enough work? That's what we've done with those guys."
Komarov (lower-body) and Zaitsev (illness) have already been ruled out for Tuesday. Komarov sustained his injury last Thursday during a victory against the Sabres, while Zaitsev last dressed for Toronto March 5, having missed the past four games.
It was originally reported Zaitsev had the flu, though Babcock made it sound like something else may have been plaguing him.
"It started with the flu, or we thought it was the flu, and then he didn't recover as quick as you'd expect," Babcock said. "He's been out 10 days, he has to get skating and he has to get working, he's obviously a real good player, and he has to get his weight up, too."