The Toronto Maple Leafs have survived quite nicely without captain Auston Matthews, who missed nine games with an upper-body injury.

O captain, my captain, our fearful trip is done. Maple Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews returned to the lineup after a nine-game absence due to a secretive upper-body injury, and he didn’t miss a beat.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will welcome Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies back to the lineup when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Saturday. Heading into the game, Toronto was already at the maximum 23-player active roster limit,