The struggling Maple Leafs look to turn things around on home ice when they entertain the suprisingly dangerous Vegas Golden Knights.
Toronto head coach Mike Babcock says centre Auston Matthews is a gametime decision with 'general soreness'. He left today's morning skate after only a few minutes.
Babcock says if Matthews can't go, one option is moving William Nylander into the middle.
"Willy wants to be a star — he's a good kid — he has a good ability to evaluate himself and his play, but we need him to better."
Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
The Leafs finished 1-3 on their four-game road-trip and are 7th in the Eastern Conference standings.
"'Do we need fix this... absolutely,'" says Babcock. "We weren't very good on the trip — I liked us at times and I didn't like us at other times. I thought in the second period in St. Louis they absolutely dominated us and I thought we didn't have any juice left whatsover. When we were 7-1 we weren't as good as everybody was saying — when we're 1-6 we're not as bad as what everybody's saying. In fact, I don't know what they're saying because I don't listen but that's what I feel: just keep on keepin' on."
The expansion Golden Knights are currently in second spot in the Pacific Division and third overall in the Western Confernce with a 9-4 record.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft on June 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)