Everything is lining up for Auston Matthews, and he gets one shot to silence every narrative

Having been injured since Nov. 11, Auston Matthews has not been able to give the team the type of performance they need from him whether offensively or defensively.

He's not looked truly comfortable this season, and at times his speed and quick‑twitch reaction haven't appeared at their usual level. It's led to discussion that maybe the captain isn't as healthy as the team is letting on which is leading to a lot of fan frustration.

When he does come back, it's going to be an important night, and one going to set the stage for the rest of the season.

Matthews has the chance to come in and silence any doubters who may have written him off, as former Maple Leaf forward Kris Versteeg puts it, and he brings up a pretty good point.

Speaking on The JD Bunkis Podcast, Versteeg explained that Matthews' return can set him up for huge success:

While things may not look great right now, the situation is setting up for Matthews to step in and stabilize the team.

The team is dealing with a ton of injuries and his return alone would give a sign that the team is getting healthier, but beyond that he has the ability to come in rested, stronger, and more focused.

He'll need to because he has to start picking things up and be the Auston Matthews of old. Given how heavily Berube has leaned on Matthews defensively, easing him back with more controlled matchups could help him spark his offense again.

Fans have been frustrated not only with Matthews' injury issues the past two seasons but also the fact that he has not necessarily lived up to the expectations of a captain.

He is also being outpaced by former captain John Tavares (27 points to Matthews' 14), a comparison that has fueled frustration given the age gap and Tavares' cheaper contract.

Matthews has to come out scoring, and has no excuses anymore. He's given more than enough time to rest and reset his focus, and can't let four or five games go by without a goal.

He needs to make his mark immediately, and the team can't afford to have him break out too late because it won't improve Toronto and could lead to more frustration overall.

While the timeline still remains unclear as to when Auston Matthews is going to return, when he does then there's only one thing to do: Play like prime Matthews would by driving plays, scoring in bunches, and reasserting himself as the face of the franchise.