With the last-place Winnipeg Jets in Toronto for a New Year’s Day clash, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews attended the morning skate on Thursday after missing Tuesday’s win over the New Jersey Devils with a lower-body injury.
Auston Matthews is on the ice for #Leafs morning skate. Leafs host #Jets tonight.
— Tony Ambrogio (@Tony_Ambrogio) January 1, 2026
The 28-year-old, who also skated on Wednesday, centred the top line in between wingers Matthew Knies and Max Domi.
Forward William Nylander, sidelined for two straight games with a lower-body injury, was on the ice before the morning skate, but did not participate with the rest of the team during the main portion of the practice.
Veteran defenceman Chris Tanev (groin) and forward Dakota Joshua (kidney) are both expected to miss “significant time” with injuries.
Matthews has 15 goals and 12 assists over 33 games this season with the Maple Leafs.
Toronto has played better hockey as of late, winning three of their last four games, with the lone loss coming against the Detroit Red Wings in overtime.
The Maple Leafs own a 18-15-16 record trough 39 games and sit four points behind the red-hot Buffalo Sabres, who have won 10 straight games, for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The struggling Jets have lost seven straight games and sit last in the NHL with a 15-19-4 record.
Projected Lines vs. Jets
F
Knies-Matthews-Domi
Maccelli-Tavares-McMann
Cowan-Roy-Robertson
Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok
Extra: Quillan
D
Rielly-Myers
McCabe-OEL
Benoit-Stecher
Extra: Carlo and Benning
G
Woll in starters goal
Hildeby