John Tavares will play for the Maple Leafs in their preseason opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, RDS).
The center has not played since sustaining a concussion and knee injury Game 1 of the Stanley Cup First Round against the Canadiens on May 20 when he fell after being checked by defenseman Ben Chiarot and then was hit in the head by the left knee of Montreal forward Corey Perry. Tavares left the ice on a stretcher and was hospitalized overnight.
"Just turning into that that nervous energy or anxiety towards excitement," Tavares said. "It's getting to play the game again doing what I love."
Tavares will play on a line with Joshua Ho-Sang and Michael Bunting.
"He's put a tremendous amount of work in," coach Sheldon Keefe said. "From what I've seen from him in the first three days, he's ready. He's prepared. He's focused, both for himself getting back to playing and also to setting our team up for a good season"
Center Auston Matthews handled the puck on Friday for the first time since he had wrist surgery on Aug. 13 but Keefe said there is no timeline for when he will join the main group at camp.
"We are very confident it is going to be before the opening of the regular season and of course, if we can get him into some exhibition games, that would be even better," Keefe said.
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