Craig Berube confirms two huge returns for the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be getting a huge boost to their lineup later this evening when they face off against Atlantic Division rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Saturday, head coach Craig Berube informed members of the media that both forwards Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies would be activated for Saturday's game against the Lightning after both men have missed time due to injury. The Maple Leafs have also made a pair of corresponding moves, placing Bobby McMann on injured reserve and assigning Alex Steeves to the Toronto Marlies in order to make room in their lineup.

Matthews, who has missed significant time with an injury that the Maple Leafs have deliberately kept under wraps, admitted that he does have some concerns about rust coming back after such a long layoff in the middle of the season. That being said, it sounds like he is eager to hit the ice after such an extended layoff as well.

"I didn’t forget how to play hockey over the last three weeks," said Matthews "Obviously there’s going to be a little bit of rust and a little bit of excitement to be back and playing again."

Matthews has had a solid start to the season, especially when adding in the context of an injury that has hampered him since training camp, with 5 goals and 6 assists for a total of 11 points over his first 13 games of the regular season.

That is however a far cry from the incredible pace of 69 goals and 38 assists for a total of 107 points in 81 games he set last season, but perhaps he will return to something more closely resembling that form now that he is injury free.