In this week’s notebook, we’ll discuss the possibilities on defense without McCabe, Auston Matthews’ promising return, the team’s penalty-kill success and power-play concerns, appreciation for Chris Tanev, the emergence of a credible fourth line, Philippe Myers’ new contract, and much more.
Notes
– In Auston Matthews’ first shift of his return from injury against Boston, Elias Lindholm gave him a pretty healthy cross-check, and Matthews didn’t even acknowledge it. He has five points in two games since he came back, including eight shots on net, and played 20:13 in the second half of a back-to-back, where he notched an assist on the overtime winner.