Noon Player Notes (Nov 28)

In case you haven't heard yet, the Toronto Maple Leafs will get Auston Matthews back in the lineup tonight, when they take on the San Jose Sharks at home.  Matthews has missed the last month with a shoulder injury and has been given the green light to return.  The Maple Leafs will definitely be happy to get him back, not to mention a number of players like Frederik Andersen, who will all see improvements in their numbers upon his return, not that the Leafs are in bad shape, still in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division.

One team that really did suffer from this injury was Benson's team.  His team was already slipping up a bit when Matthews was given his 4-week timetable, dropping down to 4th place back at the end of October and has fallen much further, down at 21st after Tuesday night's schedule.  Matthews has 16 points in 11 games this season and will be looking to get right back after it.

The Bruins have recalled rookie forward Ryan Donato on Wednesday night after a month of being down in the AHL and he could be reinserted back into the Bruins' lineup on Thursday night, when the team hosts the Islanders. Donato was off to a slow start in his NHL season, 1 goal in 11 games, but posted 9 points in 10 games in the AHL and has caught the eye of the coaching staff, as their team has struggled for goals outside of the team's top line this season.

Rumour has it that Donato was going to be Clayton's 2nd round drop in the Waiver Draft, but it now has to be somewhat reconsidered, one would have to assume.  Will Clayton's drop come before or after Donato takes the ice and shows off some new found confidence?  We shall see.