TORONTO -- Auston Matthews participated in his first full practice with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday and could return from an upper-body injury when they visit the Florida Panthers on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SNW, SNO, SN1).

A couple of dusty ol’ sporting clichés find themselves in direct opposition when it comes to Auston Matthews, who is targeting a healthy return to game action sometime this week in Florida.

The Maple Leafs captain has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since Nov. 3 and the situation reached a point where he even traveled to Munich, Germany for treatment last week. Although he's occasionally participated in smaller drills during his absence, Tuesday's update was one that Toronto fans have been waiting for.

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The top-six forwards on the Maple Leafs are on the recovery trail as the team heads to Florida. Auston Matthews was a full practice participant on Tuesday and Matthew Knies made his first appearance,

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews took part in his first practice as a full participant on Tuesday morning since getting injured on Nov. 3.