Leafs star Matthews says he's ready to play after missing nine games with injury

   

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews says he is ready to return to the lineup ahead of Toronto's road game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

Matthews told reporters after practice on Friday that he is back and excited to play.

The star centre has missed nine games with an undisclosed upper-body injury that led to him seeing a specialist in Munich, Germany. He returned to skating last weekend.