Leafs’ Auston Matthews questionable to face Alex Ovechkin and Capitals

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The Alex Ovechkin-Auston Matthews battle on Bay Street could be a one-man show on Thursday.

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Matthews was not at Toronto’s morning skate, with coach Sheldon Keefe saying he is ill — though not with the flu bug that has taken a toll on the dressing room — and will be a game-time decision against the Washington Capitals.

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Max Domi was in the middle for the skate with Tyler Bertuzzi on his left side and Mitch Marner on the right, but Marner is still expected to sit while recovering from a sprained ankle. William Nylander or Nick Robertson could move up on the right side if Domi stays in the middle.

Ovechkin, who scored a couple against the Leafs last week in a losing cause, comes into Scotiabank Arena with 44 goals, 33 assists and 77 points versus the Leafs in his career. NHL Stats lists that as the most by any player against Toronto this century, certainly the most against any team outside his own division.

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Matthews has 20 points in 16 games versus Washington.

“It’s obvious about taking away (Ovechkin’s) time and space and shot” defenceman Jake McCabe said. “That’s the simple answer. But he’s scored as many as he has (848, just 46 behind Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record) for a reason. If people had figured it out, they’d probably have stopped it.”

In comparison, Ovie’s contemporary, Sidney Crosby has 67 points in 52 starts against Toronto.

Robertson, 15 years Ovechkin’s junior, once attended a Caps-Penguins game in D.C. years ago wearing a Crosby sweater, but gets a thrill every time he faces the Great Eight.

“He’s a Hall of Famer, a legend,” Robertson said.

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Ovechkin stopped to chat with former player-turned-Toronto skills coach Nik Antropov after the Caps’ skate and took a picture with Antropov’s son. The night before he was posing for pictures with fans who recognized him in the street and said it’s a favourite stop.

“There have been lots of events (international tournaments award shows), great crowd, you guys (media), it’s pretty good.”

But the politeness gave way to the reality of both teams needing a win on Thursday. The Caps have nosed back ahead of Detroit for the last wild-card spot in the East while the Leafs dropping their past two matches allowed Tampa Bay to move within two points of knocking Toronto out of third in the Atlantic Division.

“They’re rolling, fighting for their playoff lives and we’re no different,” McCabe said. “Everyone’s trying to clinch a spot. We have to put our best foot forward tonight.”

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This is Washington’s first visit this season, a much-delayed homecoming for head coach Spencer Carbery, Keefe’s former assistant for two seasons and director of Toronto’s power-play success.

Keefe was an early proponent of Carbery being ready for a head coaching position elsewhere.

“A lot of fond memories here,” Carbery said. “I always appreciated being in this organization, the pressures that went along with it, expectations from fans and media. That drives me. It just meant you were doing something important.”

Defenceman Rasmus Sandin, traded by the Leafs late last season, also returns. Joseph Woll is in net for Toronto, Charlie Lindgren expected to start for Washington.

lhornby@postmedia.com

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