VANCOUVER — New Avalanche forward Shawn Matthias returned to Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup Saturday and scored a goal against the Flyers, his sixth of the season. He had missed two weeks with a neck injury after colliding with a teammate during a Feb. 6 game against the Senators.
Colorado acquired Matthias on Sunday, sending minor-league forward Colin Smith and a 2016 fourth-round draft choice to the Maple Leafs. Smith, 22, was the third-leading scorer for the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.
Via phone, Matthias — who celebrated his 28th birthday Friday — told me his neck is 100 percent and he’s thrilled to go from a probable draft lottery team to one that is in the playoff hunt.