{"id":496845,"date":"2026-02-24T18:40:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/496845\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:40:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:40:07","slug":"craig-berube-expects-auston-matthews-to-play-wednesday-vs-tampa-bay-lightning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/496845\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig Berube expects Auston Matthews to play Wednesday vs. Tampa Bay Lightning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> head coach Craig Berube<\/a> told reporters Tuesday that he expects forward Auston Matthews<\/a> to play Wednesday evening against the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Berube added that a final decision on Matthews\u2019 status will be made when he\u2019s back with the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s riding a pretty good high right now with winning,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe\u2019s feeling good. We will evaluate that tomorrow and see where he is at. I\u2019ll get a better feel when I talk to him tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reported earlier Tuesday that the return-to-play status of NHL players on Team USA\u2019s men\u2019s Olympic hockey team remained in question as they celebrate their gold medal Tuesday in Washington.<\/p>\n

Johnston reported Matthews would return to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

As Team USA celebrates its gold medal today in Washington, the status of players involved remains under discussion as it pertains to their NHL availability.
That includes Auston Matthews, who will join the #leafs<\/a> in Tampa before Wednesday’s game. Not yet clear if he’ll play.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Matthews helped lead the United States to an historic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the gold-medal game Sunday in Milan. The team returned to the U.S. on Monday and in a video posted to social media after the win accepted an invitation from U.S. president Donald Trump to attend the state of the union speech Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C., which would give Matthews and his American teammates with games Wednesday a tight turnaround. <\/p>\n

However, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger in Tuesday\u2019s edition of Early Trading<\/a>, Matthews and Team USA are no longer expected to attend the 9:00pm ET speech and will instead attend a Tuesday afternoon luncheon.<\/p>\n

Matthews, from Scottsdale, Ariz., registered three goals and seven points during Milano Cortina 2026 en route to a gold medal. He also has 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games in Toronto this season as the Maple Leafs look to make a push for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Toronto returns from the Olympic break tied for sixth place in the Atlantic Division with the Ottawa Senators<\/a> after going 27-21-9 before the Olympic break. They sit six points back of the Boston Bruins<\/a> for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n