Auston Matthews Official 4 Nations Face-Off Status Confirmed After Latest Report
A lot of questions surround whether or not Auston Matthews is going to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off but a recent update shows he's more than likely suiting up.
There was a lot of concern regarding the Maple Leafs' captain's status heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off, as he's already missed games twice this season due to injury, and an exhibition tournament would have put him at risk for a trifecta of absences.
With news that Alex Pietrangelo had pulled out from Team Canada to focus on Vegas' regular season and deal with a minor ailment, the calls for Matthews to step back rang louder than ever.
But according to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, it looks like #34 is going to suit up for Team USA when the tournament rolls around:
Auston Matthew Set To Play For Team USA
Matthews playing in the tournament is good news for Team USA but bad news for concerned Maple Leafs fans, who will no doubt be watching each game with bated breath wondering if their captain will survive unscathed.
He's already missed twice this year due to injury, and the potential for him to get hurt again in a simple exhibition is even more concerning. A 15 game absence is nothing to ignore, and Matthews has just finally found his form since coming back on Jan 4.
A positive for the team though is that if Matthews can produce a lot of offense and get into a rhythm, hopefully it will translate into the regular season after the tournament concludes on Feb. 20.
This season, Matthews has 20 goals and 18 assists in 35 games but has been on fire with 15 points over his last 11 (9G, 6A). You can tell he's feeling more comfortable too when he's busting out moves like these.
Matthews will also be in a bit of trouble if teammate William Nylander has anything to say about it, as he joked around with media on Wednesday that he may need to ask his captain politely for a scrum.
Team USA and Matthews will get the chance to get their tournament off on the right foot when they take on Team Finland on Feb 13.
