TORONTO — Morgan Rielly enjoys seeing Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin spin their magic — when the Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman isn't on the ice trying to contain them, that is.
"Watching those guys when they're playing really well is great," Rielly said. "The way they play the game, the way they move the puck and create offensive opportunities for their linemates … it's about as good as it gets.
"Playing against them is tough, but it's a good test for our team looking to bounce back."
And bounce back is exactly what Toronto will be trying to do when the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins visit Air Canada Centre on Saturday.
The Leafs limped home off a disappointing four-game road trip — a slide preceded by victories in nine of their previous 10 — that culminated with Monday's 5-3 loss in Buffalo to round out a 0-2-2 stretch where they surrendered a combined 16 goals against.
But with four days to get ready for a Pittsburgh attack that has averaged an NHL-high four goals a game in 2018, the Leafs won't have any excuses when it comes to rest or preparation.
"We've been sliding a little bit, and I think now's a good time to get back on track," Toronto centre Nazem Kadri said. "Just being able to try to play our best hockey and move things in the right direction to where we want to be come playoff time.
"These guys are contenders, are every year, and we're certainly going to try to make it hard on them."
One big hole that remains is down the middle, where it looks like the Leafs will once again be without star centre Auston Matthews
Sporting a red non-contact jersey, the 20-year-old skated on his own prior to Friday's practice before briefly joining the main session, but left for the locker-room about 10 minutes later.
Matthews injured his shoulder after getting sandwiched by two Islanders in Toronto's 4-3 shootout victory over New York on Feb. 22.
"He's progressing," Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. "What does that mean? I don't know the answer to that.
"When he's ready, he'll let us know. Ideally we'll have him more than ready as far as fitness goes."
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