Matthews has put up points in 10 of his last 11 games (eight goals, seven assists), and he has 17 games and 17 assists in 31 games this season. Matthews' pace is quickening, which spells good things for your second half.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews publicly addressed his team's obvious slump following the team's 3rd consecutive loss. The Toronto Maple Leafs are now on their longest losing streak of the season after falling 4-1 at home to the Dallas Stars.

Auston Matthews is set to return to the Maple Leafs lineup Saturday night against the Boston Bruins after missing the last six games with an undisclosed injury. “It’s exciting,” Matthews said Saturday morning. “It’s never fun watching.”

Matthews has been dealing with an upper-body injury all season long and the player was selected to play for Team USA in the mid-season tournament.

Returning from his second absence this season due to an upper-body injury, Matthews logged a season-low 17:32. The back-and-forth nature of the game saw Matthews play more in the third period, particularly as Toronto was defending the 5-on-6 situation as Boston looked for a tying goal.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has 19 goals and ten assists for 29 points in 20 career matchups versus the New Jersey Devils

Matthews has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his last six games since he returned from injury. That increases his season total to 15 goals, 17 assists and 116 shots in 30 games. And you can expect Matthews' goal scoring to increase given his somewhat flat 12.

The Devils have only lost twice this season when leading after two periods (21-0-2). And both of those losses are to the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime, including a 4-3 setback at Scotiebank Arena Thursday night.

"We're down. You know, just moving guys around," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of the switch after the game. "They went out and scored right away, and then I just trying to get some goals back as quickly as possible."

TORONTO -- Auston Matthews is on track to play for the United States when the 4 Nations Face-off begins on Feb. 12 despite dealing with an upper-body injury that has bothered him since training camp.

The top three players on TSN's trade bait list are all centers: J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, and Brock Nelson, but these guys are out of price range and wouldn't fit cohesively on the Maple Leafs' third line.