Mike Matheson Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Penguins vs Canadiens game on Monday with our National Hockey League injury report.Dec 3, 2023
Sets up power-play strike
Matheson recorded a power-play assist, one shot on goal, three blocked shots and one hit over 29:17 of ice time in Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit.
ANALYSIS
Matheson and Nick Suzuki played pass along the boards before the captain struck from the top of the right faceoff circle to cut the Red Wings' lead to 4-3 early in the third period. Montreal's power-play unit, which was unsuccessful over 27 consecutive opportunities, scored for the first time since Nov. 12. When the unit does produce, Matheson and Suzuki are typically involved. The defenseman leads the Canadiens with 10 man-advantage points with Suzuki trailing him at nine.
Nov 30, 2023
Two helpers in Wednesday's win
Matheson notched two assists while adding three blocked shots and a plus-1 rating in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
The veteran defenseman in enjoying a productive November, as Matheson has racked up three goals and 11 points over his last 12 games, including a goal and three helpers on the power play, while chipping in 26 shots on net and 24 blocked shots. Playing big minutes for Montreal does have its drawbacks from a fantasy perspective, as he also carries a minus-9 rating over that stretch, but Matheson's offensive output can't be ignored.
Nov 23, 2023
Buries goal in win
Matheson scored a goal on four shots and blocked two shots in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Matheson put the Canadiens ahead 3-1 with his second-period tally. The 29-year-old blueliner has been solid lately with three goals and five assists over his last seven contests. For the season, he's up to 15 points, 53 shots on net, 42 blocked shots, 14 PIM and a minus-9 rating through 19 appearances.
Nov 17, 2023
Slides two helpers in loss
Matheson had two assists, four shots on goal, three blocked shots, two hits and two penalty minutes over 28:08 of ice time in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
Matheson had the secondary helpers on Montreal's first and last goals, and the blueliner is on a roll with seven points over the last five games. He's logging heavy minutes (24:56 TOI per game) on the top pair and quarterbacks the power play, which sets up Matheson for new career highs in scoring. He's at 14 points through 17 games, and while that pace may not be sustainable, 40 points is within the range of likely outcomes. His career high was set last season when he recorded 34 points in 48 games.
Nov 13, 2023
Scores in loss
Matheson scored a goal in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Canucks. He added two PIM to his line over 23:21 of ice time.
ANALYSIS
Matheson joined the battle in front and fired a feed from Sean Monahan over the pile of players in front of Vancouver netminder Casey DeSmith for Montreal's first goal. The tally was defenseman's fourth goal of the season, and the third consecutive game with at least one point. On the downside, Matheson was minus-3 and is minus-9 over the last five contests.
Nov 12, 2023
Helps on power play in win
Matheson had a power-play assist, two shots on goal, five blocked shots and one hit over 27:21 of ice time in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win against Boston.
ANALYSIS
Matheson fed Nick Suzuki for Montreal's first goal of the game, giving him three assists in the last two games. The top-pair blueliner, who averages a career-high 4:46 PPTOI, is second on the team with eight assists and fourth with 11 points (eight on the power play) over 14 games.
Nov 10, 2023
Shakes off rough stretch
Matheson scored a goal and had two power-play assists in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win against the Red Wings. He finished with five shots on net and one blocked shot over 27:56 of ice time.
ANALYSIS
Matheson was reeling following a stretch during which he was minus-6 in losses to the Blues and Lightning. He began the bounce-back night by sniping Montreal's first goal as a trailer off a feed from Alex Newhook. The 29-year-old blueliner is up to 10 points (seven on the power play), 40 shots on net, nine hits, 28 blocked shots over 13 games.
Oct 31, 2023
Plays Monday
Matheson had three shots on goal, two blocked shots, one hit and two penalty minutes over 22:01 of ice time in Monday's 3-2 shootout loss to Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Matheson was dinged up in the Canadiens' previous game but traveled with the team and was on ice for the first of a three-game road trip. He's provided some offense from Montreal's blue line, posting two goals and four assists -- all but one assist coming on the power play -- over nine appearances.
Oct 30, 2023
Suiting up Monday
Matheson (lower body) is on the ice for warmups and expected to play Monday against the Golden Knights, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson suffered a minor injury Saturday against Winnipeg but won't be forced to miss any action. The 29-year-old is off to a hot start, tallying two goals and six points through eight games.
Oct 30, 2023
Game-time call
Matheson (lower body) will be a game-time decision Monday against Vegas, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson took part in the morning skate after being injured in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over Winnipeg. He has compiled two goals, four assists, 22 shots on net and 21 blocked shots in eight games this season. If Matheson can't play in Monday's contest, Gustav Lindstrom will replace him in the lineup.
Oct 28, 2023
Will travel with team
Matheson's lower-body injury is considered minor and he will travel with the Canadiens, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson exited Saturday's game versus the Jets with the injury, but it's not considered a significant concern. It's encouraging that he'll travel for the three-game road trip, which begins Monday in Vegas. If he can't play, Gustav Lindstrom will likely enter the lineup, while Kaiden Guhle would probably take on a larger role.
Oct 28, 2023
Undergoing tests
Matheson (undisclosed) is undergoing tests and is questionable to return to Saturday's game versus the Jets, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson logged a power-play assist in 16:15 of ice time during the contest. The defenseman was able to return after one trip to the locker room, but he was clearly still bothered by the issue. If Matheson can't finish the game, he'll be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's game versus the Golden Knights.
Oct 27, 2023
Scores again Thursday
Matheson recorded a goal and an assist with the man advantage against Columbus on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson had just six multi-point games last season but has already registered his first one of the 2023-24 campaign. The Quebec native is thriving right now thanks to his role on the power play, having notched four of his five points to open the campaign with the man advantage. At this rate, Matheson could reach the 40-point threshold for the first time in his NHL career.
Oct 25, 2023
Collects first goal of season
Matheson scored a power-play goal on five shots while adding two blocked shots in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Devils.
ANALYSIS
The veteran defenseman's first tally of the season was highlight reel-worthy, as Matheson made an end-to-end rush and split two defenders at the New Jersey blue line before going five-hole on Vitek Vanecek midway through the third period. Matheson's got three points through six games, supplementing his fantasy value with 16 blocked shots and 20 shots on net as the top option on the Habs' blue line.
Oct 22, 2023
Helps on winner
Matheson had an assist, five shots on goal, three hits, two blocked shots and two penalty minutes over 26:23 of ice time in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win against Washington.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's second assist of the season was the secondary helper on Cole Caufield's OT winner. The top-pair defender is entrusted in all situations -- penalty kill, power play and three-on-three OT -- and could provide offense from the blueline if he stays healthy. Matheson has two assists, 14 SOG, five hits, 13 blocked shots and six PIM over 25:49 TOI.
Oct 7, 2023
Ready to rock
Matheson (lower body) will play in Saturday's preseason finale against Ottawa.
ANALYSIS
Matheson, who had been hindered by a lower-body issue, will get a chance to play before Montreal takes on Toronto on Wednesday to begin the 2023-24 campaign. In 48 games last season. he registered eight goals, 34 points, 126 shots on net, 80 blocked shots and 53 hits. It could be a big year for the 29-year-old blueliner, as he is slated to play on the top defense pair and work on the first power-play unit.
Sep 30, 2023
Skates Saturday
Matheson (lower body) skated Saturday, Patrick Friolet of RDS.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson is being monitored daily for his lower-body injury. The defenseman has not practiced since Tuesday but head coach Martin St. Louis said at the time that had it been a regular-season game, Matheson would have played. Matheson had eight goals and 34 points in only 48 games last season.
Sep 28, 2023
Not practicing Thursday
Matheson (lower body) is not at practice Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
It's the second day in a row that Matheson has missed practice. The good news is that head coach Martin St. Louis said that had it been a regular-season game, Matheson would have suited up. Matheson had eight goals and 34 points in 48 games last season.
Sep 27, 2023
Held out with LBI
Matheson is dealing with a lower-body injury, which is the reason for his absence from Wednesday's game versus the Senators, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Head coach Martin St. Louis added that Matheson would have played if it was a regular-season contest. Most importantly, Matheson's injury isn't related to the one he sustained at the end of last season. He is day-to-day, and the Canadiens will likely exercise caution before the 29-year-old is cleared to rejoin the lineup for preseason action.
Sep 11, 2023
Good to go
Matheson (lower body) will be ready for the beginning of training camp, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson was injured in Montreal's final contest of the 2022-23 season. In 48 games last campaign, he accounted for eight goals, 34 points, 126 shots on net and 80 blocked shots. He is projected to play on the top defense pairing in 2023-24 and could also see time on the first power-play combination.
Apr 13, 2023
Exits Thursday's contest
Matheson sustained a lower-body injury during Thursday's game against Boston and won't return.
ANALYSIS
Matheson recorded two shots on 12:11 of ice time before exiting the contest. Montreal is playing out its season finale, so Matheson will finish the 2022-23 campaign with eight goals and 34 points in 48 appearances.
Apr 8, 2023
Continues to produce
Matheson had an assist, two shots on goal, one hit and three blocked shots over 29:45 of ice time in Saturday's 7-1 loss to Toronto.
ANALYSIS
Matheson picked up the primary helper on Johnny Kovacevic's goal, giving the former four assists the last two games. Matheson has been a beast since returning from a lower-body injury in January, registering 28 points over 36 contests.
Apr 6, 2023
Sets career mark in points
Matheson delivered three assists in a 6-2 win over the Capitals on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Two of the helpers came shorthanded. With the assists, Matheson established a new career mark for points (33; eight goals, 25 assists) in just 45 games. His previous best came last season when he delivered 11 goals and 20 assists in 74 games with the Penguins.
Mar 31, 2023
Closes in on career high
Matheson logged a power-play assist, three shots on goal and two hits over 29:16 of ice time in Thursday's 5-2 loss to Florida.
ANALYSIS
Matheson picked up the secondary helper on Rafael Harvey-Pinard's tally for his 11th point (four on the power play) in the last 10 games. His second-half scoring surge, in which Matheson's logged seven goals and 15 assists over 25 contests -- leaves him one point shy of the career-high 31 he posted last season in Pittsburgh. What stands out is that Matheson played 74 games last season compared to just 42 in 2022-23.
Mar 28, 2023
Logs another assist
Matheson had an assist, five shots on goal, one hit and one blocked shot over 29:05 of ice time in Monday's 4-3 shootout win over Buffalo.
ANALYSIS
Matheson registered his fifth assist in the last three games and has a four-game point streak. He's zeroing in on a new career high in points. In 39 games, the defenseman has 28 points, three shy of the 31 he posted in 74 games with the Penguins last year.
Mar 25, 2023
Notches three assists
Matheson posted three assists and three shots, helping the Canadiens to an 8-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson was a big contributor offensively Saturday, dishing out helpers on Mike Hoffman's goal and two of Rafael Harvey-Pinard's goals. Matheson has been on a roll lately, picking up points in six of his last seven games with nine points in that span. On the season, Matheson has eight goals and 28 points in 39 games.
Mar 24, 2023
Nabs power-play assist
Matheson had a power-play assist, five shots on goal, one hit, two blocked and four penalty minutes in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Boston.
ANALYSIS
Matheson found Kirby Dach at the side of the net for a goal that brought Montreal within a goal, 3-2, late in the second period. The defenseman continued a recent burst of offense and now has six points over the last six games.
Mar 22, 2023
Nets game winner
Matheson scored a goal on five shots over 25:31 of ice time in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Tampa Bay.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's harmless looking wrist shot from the point made its way through traffic and behind Andrei Vasilevskiy for the game-winning goal. Since Matheson returned from Montreal's bye week Feb. 11, he leads all defensemen with seven goals scored (20 games). He's always been a risk taker offensively, which led to issues for him when Matheson played for Florida, but he developed a skill of knowing when to take risks thanks to his two years with the Penguins, per Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic, and Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis recognizes it. "I think he's found more consistency with it," St. Louis said. "To me, it's all about how many chips you have in the bank. You know? So if you make a bad [read] and it costs a scoring chance or a goal, I'll live with it if your chip count is high. He's built his chip count pretty well." For the season, Matheson has eight goals and 16 assists in 37 games.
Mar 17, 2023
Runs point streak to three
Matheson scored a goal on three shots and assisted on another over 20:22 of ice time in Thursday's 9-5 loss to the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
Matheson scored just 16 seconds into the game, igniting what would be an historic first 20 minutes that saw a combined 10 goals scored in the first period. That tied an NHL record for goals in the first period of a game, something that happened twice before dating back to 1917. For Matheson, the marker extended a point streak to three contests, giving him 23 points over 35 games.
Mar 13, 2023
Scores goal Monday
Matheson found the back of the net in Montreal's 8-4 loss to Colorado on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's marker came midway through the third period and reduced Colorado's lead to 7-4. He has six goals and 20 points in 33 contests in 2022-23. Matheson was held off the scoresheet over his previous three games.
Mar 5, 2023
Stays hot with goal
Matheson scored a goal on three shots in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has gotten on the scoresheet in seven of his last eight games, racking up three goals and five helpers over that span. The 29-year-old defenseman is as good as any blueliner lately, in part thanks to his significant role in the Canadiens' lineup. He has five goals, 19 points, 70 shots on net, 41 hits, 40 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating through 29 outings overall.
Mar 3, 2023
Assists in consecutive games
Matheson produced an assist, three shots on goal, four blocked shots, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Ducks.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has a helper in each of the last two games and 11 points (three goals, eight assists) over his last 12 outings. The defenseman set up Jonathan Drouin's first goal of the season early in the first period. Matheson continues to impress in a top-pairing role with 18 points, 67 shots on net, 40 hits, 39 blocked shots, 23 PIM and a plus-8 rating through 28 appearances.
Mar 2, 2023
Adds helper in loss
Matheson produced an assist and three shots on goal in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Kings.
ANALYSIS
Matheson set up Denis Gurianov's third-period tally. Since the All-Star break, Matheson has been locked in on offense with three goals, six helpers and a plus-7 rating in 10 contests. The 29-year-old defenseman is playing a significant role for the Canadiens this year, and he's produced 17 points, 64 shots on net, 38 hits, 35 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating through 27 appearances.
Feb 25, 2023
Four-game point streak
Matheson scored a goal in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Ottawa.
ANALYSIS
It was a surprising goal-scorer's goal. Matheson skated around Sens' defender Thomas Chabot and flipped his own rebound over Mads Sogaard. He has five points (two goals, three assists) during a four-game point streak. Overall, Matheson has four goals and 16 points in 25 games with Montreal. He may be a solid waiver play to boost you during fantasy playoffs.
Feb 25, 2023
Nabs assist in win
Matheson had an assist, five shots on goal and one hit over 19:27 of ice time in Friday's 5-2 win over the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
The Canadiens cruised in the first of a back-to-back set, which allowed Matheson, who's averaged 23:32 TOI for the season, to reduce his workload ahead of Saturday's game against Ottawa. Montreal's top-pair defenseman extended a point streak to three games and has eight over the last eight contests.
Feb 22, 2023
Registers two-pointer in win
Matheson scored a goal and had an assist in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Devils. He added one shot and two blocked shots over 27:27 of ice time.
ANALYSIS
Matheson assisted on Johnny Kovacevic's goal then shut the door on New Jersey with a 200-foot shot into an empty net, the last of three goals scored by Montreal defensemen. He's had a productive stretch of offense since returning from the break, posting six points in six games, including a pair of multi-point efforts. Matheson should continue to see top-pair minutes and be part of the team's top power-play unit.
Feb 19, 2023
Logs assist in loss
Matheson had an assist, six shots on goal, two blocked shots and two penalty minutes over 23:55 of ice time in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Maple Leafs.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's attempt from the blue line was tipped home by Josh Anderson. It was the fifth point in the last six games for the defenseman, who is up to 12 points in 22 contests this season.
Feb 13, 2023
Extends point streak
Matheson had a power-play assist and two blocked shots over 24:28 of ice time in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Oilers.
ANALYSIS
Matheson, who was the hero in Saturday's win over the Islanders, was the primary helper on Rafael Harvey-Pinard's power-play tally in the second period. It was the third consecutive game with a point for Matheson, who has logged five points in nine contests since returning from a lower-body injury.
Feb 11, 2023
Plays hero in OT win
Matheson scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Islanders.
ANALYSIS
After Kirby Dach tipped home Matheson's point shot with just over three minutes left in the third period to tie the game at 3-3, the blueliner made sure the game wouldn't get to a shootout. He found Mike Hoffman coming out of the penalty box inside the final minute of OT to create a two-on-one break, then banged home the rebound after Hoffman's shot was stopped by Semyon Varlamov. Matheson has had flashes of productivity when healthy this season but his healthy stretches have been all too infrequent, and the 28-year-old has two goals and 10 points through only 18 games.
Jan 17, 2023
Finds scoresheet in return
Matheson picked up an assist in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Jets.
ANALYSIS
Seeing his first game action since Dec. 17 after recovering from a lower-body injury, Matheson immediately slotted back onto Montreal's top power-play unit and led the club in ice time with the man advantage (3:04) while also adding four hits, one shot and a plus-2 rating to his ledger. The 28-year-old blueliner hasn't been able to stay healthy this season, playing in only 11 games between stints on the shelf, but he's been surprisingly productive when on the ice with a goal and seven points.
Jan 17, 2023
Back in action against Jets
Matheson (lower body) will return to the lineup versus Winnipeg on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson will be back in action after having played just once in the Habs' previous 18 contests. With his injury woes seemingly behind him, Matheson should be in line to link up with the No. 1 power-play unit where he figures to offer decent fantasy value.
Jan 13, 2023
Will not play this weekend
Matheson (lower body) won't play this weekend, according to coach Martin St. Louis.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has been practicing but is still not ready to go. He has missed the last 11 games, and 15 of the last 16 contests. Matheson has a goal and five assists in 10 games this season.
Jan 7, 2023
Practices Friday
Matheson (lower body) practiced Friday, Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson, who missed 12 of the last 13 games, rejoined teammates Friday. While he's been out, the Canadiens relied heavily on younger defensemen, which sets up the Canadiens in the long run but hurts their chances in the short term. The team believes Matheson is about two weeks away from being ready to play in a game.
Dec 28, 2022
Remains out through road trip
Matheson (lower body) is set to be reevaluated following the team's four-game road trip, the Canadiens announced Wednesday. Additionally, Matheson has been placed on injured reserve, per the NHL media site.
ANALYSIS
It's a slightly more clear timeline for Matheson after having been previously ruled out indefinitely. Once given the all-clear, the Quebec native should not only retake his place on the top pairing but also the No. 1 power-play unit where he should be capable of offering decent offensive upside. Prior to getting hurt, Matheson registered four assists, 12 shots and 11 hits in his previous five contests.
Dec 19, 2022
Ruled out indefinitely
Matheson sustained a lower-body injury that will sideline him indefinitely, the team announced Monday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson remained in Montreal and will miss at least the upcoming three-game road trip, though it certainly sounds as though it could be longer. It's just the latest injury absence for the defenseman who has been limited to just 10 games this year in which he recorded one goal, five assists and 14 hits. Considering he is out indefinitely, Matheson likely will be designated for injured reserve soon.
Dec 18, 2022
TOI leader in return
Matheson had three shots on goal, four hits and two penalty minutes over a team-high 22:37 of ice time in Saturday's 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay.
ANALYSIS
Matheson returned to the ice after missing four games due to a lower-body injury. Per usual, he was deployed on the top pair and was given a healthy dose of playing time. The 28-year-old is averaging a career-high 24:14 TOI over 10 contests.
Dec 17, 2022
Back in lineup
Matheson (lower body) will return to the lineup Saturday against Tampa Bay.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has registered six points, 21 shots on goal, nine blocks and 10 hits in nine appearances this season. He is slated to be paired with Jordan Harris on Saturday following his four-game absence.
Dec 15, 2022
Unlikely to play Thursday
Matheson (lower body) isn't expected to play Thursday versus Anaheim.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has missed the Canadiens' last three games. He has a goal and six points in 28 contests this season. When he's healthy, the 28-year-old might serve on the top pairing.
Dec 13, 2022
Still out Wednesday
Matheson (lower body) will not travel with the team for Wednesday's clash with Ottawa.
ANALYSIS
Matheson is still considered day-to-day according to the team but will be sidelined for his third straight contest. With a back-to-back on the horizon, it's hard to imagine Matheson will be cleared to play against Anaheim on Thursday either, though he hasn't been officially ruled out. Prior to his latest injury absence, the 28-year-old Quebec native was finding his stride with one goal, five assists and 21 shots in his previous nine contests.
Dec 12, 2022
Unavailable Monday
Matheson (lower body) won't play Monday versus Calgary, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The Canadiens won't make any lineup changes from Saturday's loss to Los Angeles, so Matheson remains unavailable. He is listed as day-to-day. The 28-year-old blueliner has supplied one goal, five assists, 21 shots on net, nine blocks and 10 hits in nine appearances this year.
Dec 10, 2022
Out of action Saturday
Matheson (undisclosed) will not play Saturday versus LA, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson left practice early Thursday and did not practice Friday. He missed the first 17 games of the season with an abdominal strain. He had played in the last nine contests, scoring once and adding five assists.
Dec 9, 2022
Not practicing Friday
Matheson (undisclosed) is not at practice Friday, according to Eric Engels of Sportsnet.ca.
ANALYSIS
Matheson left practice early Thursday and did not return. Matheson missed the first 17 games of the season recovering from an abdominal strain and has a goal and six points in nine games with Montreal. Consider him day-to-day at this time.
Dec 6, 2022
Slides another assist
Matheson posted an assist, two blocked shots and two PIM in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Kraken.
ANALYSIS
Matheson set up Johnny Kovacevic on the opening goal at 12:56 of the first period. With four helpers in his last three games, Matheson is taking to a top-pairing role quite well. The defenseman has a goal, four assists, 21 shots on net, 10 hits, nine blocked shots and a minus-4 rating through nine outings.
Dec 5, 2022
Helpers in back-to-back games
Matheson posted an assist and two shots on goal in Monday's 7-6 overtime loss to the Canucks.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has assists in consecutive games for the first time this year. The 28-year-old has provided a significant boost to the Canadiens' blue line in terms of experience since his season debut Nov. 19. He's picked up a goal, three helpers, 20 shots on net and a minus-4 rating through eight contests while logging massive minutes in a top-four role. That's also included regular power-play time, so Matheson is worth a look in deeper fantasy formats if he can keep chipping in a point roughly every other game.
Dec 4, 2022
Hooks up with Suzuki on PP
Matheson had a power-play assist, five shots on net, five hits and one blocked shot over 26:57 of ice time in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Oilers.
ANALYSIS
Matheson set up Nick Suzuki coming off the right boards, leading to Montreal's first goal. It was the second time in four games Matheson was the primary helper on a Suzuki power-play strike. The 28-year-old blueliner has three points (two on the power play) over the seven games since he returned from an abdomen injury.
Nov 26, 2022
Logs power-play assist
Matheson had a power-play assist, one shot on net, one blocked shot and two penalty minutes over 24:01 of ice time in Friday's 3-2 shootout win over the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Matheson played a game of pass with forward Nick Suzuki, who scored from the right faceoff circle to give Montreal a 2-1 lead in the second period. It was Matheson's second point (first on the power play) in four games since returning from an abdomen injury that cost him the season's first 17 contests. There doesn't appear to be any issues with conditioning for Matheson, who is averaging 23:48 TOI, including 2:47 on the power play.
Nov 19, 2022
Nets goal in debut
Matheson scored a goal during Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over the visiting Flyers.
ANALYSIS
Matheson, who dressed for the first time Saturday after recovering from an abdominal muscle strain, made his presence felt from the opening faceoff. The 28-year-old defenseman looked in midseason form, scoring a second-period tally from the high slot area off a no-look backhand helper from Nick Suzuki. Matheson finished with four PIM, three shots and two blocks in the comeback win.
Nov 19, 2022
Makes season debut Saturday
Matheson (abdomen) will make his Montreal debut Saturday against the Flyers.
ANALYSIS
Matheson was dealt from the Penguins in the offseason, but suffered an abdominal muscle strain before the start of the regular season. He will line up with Joel Edmundson on the second pairing. Matheson had a career-best 11 goals and 31 points in 74 games last season with Pittsburgh.
Nov 19, 2022
Poised for return
Matheson (abdomen) participated in his first full-contact practice with teammates Friday and could be active Saturday against the Flyers, Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson skated on the top pairing with Joel Edmundson, a sign that team plans to make him available against the Flyers, while Arber Xhekaj skated on the fourth pairing with Chris Wideman. Another sign is that Montreal cleared a roster spot Friday by sending Rem Pitlick to AHL Laval. Matheson was a key offseason acquisition who can provide a veteran presence for a largely youthful blue line.
Nov 17, 2022
Won't play Thursday
Matheson (abdomen) will not play Thursday in Columbus, Eric Engels of Sportsnet.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson is close to returning as he had been practicing in a regular jersey, but he has yet to get the green light to play so he will be missing from the lineup against the Blue Jackets. Matheson has yet to play this season but is ahead of schedule as he was expected to miss eight weeks from the start of the NHL season with an abdominal muscle strain.
Nov 16, 2022
Close to returning
Matheson (abdomen) skated in a regular jersey Wednesday morning, indicating he should be ready to make his Montreal debut sooner rather than later, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has yet to play this season due to an abdominal muscle strain, but he could enter the lineup as soon as Thursday versus the Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old defender picked up 11 goals, 31 points and 140 shots on net through 74 games with the Penguins last year.
Nov 11, 2022
Back at practice Friday
Matheson (abdomen) is wearing a non-contact jersey at practice Friday, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has yet to suit up in the regular season after suffering an abdominal muscle strain at the tail-end of training camp. The original prognosis was eight weeks which would get him back in the lineup in early December, but he could be ahead of schedule. Matheson had a career-high 11 goals and 31 points with Pittsburgh in 2021-22 and was dealt in the offseason to Montreal with a fourth-round pick in 2023 for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling.
Nov 8, 2022
Skates prior to practice
Matheson (abdomen) skated prior to Monday's practice, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has been sidelined since the start of the season with an abdominal muscle strain. He was given a two-month timeline Oct. 14 but looks like he could be ahead of schedule.
Oct 13, 2022
Set for eight-week absence
Matheson is expected to miss eight weeks with an abdominal muscle strain.
ANALYSIS
Previous reports indicated Matheson was dealing with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old shouldn't be expected back until mid-December unless his recovery goes well. His absence bodes well for the likelihood of Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj continuing to hold down spots on the Canadiens' blue line, at least until Joel Edmundson (lower body) returns.
Oct 13, 2022
Goes on IR
Matheson (lower body) has been placed on injured reserve, according to the Canadien's website.
ANALYSIS
Matheson did not play Wednesday in the Canadiens 4-3 win over Toronto. Matheson came over from Pittsburgh where he had 11 goals and 31 points in 74 games last season.
Oct 12, 2022
Unavailable for Opening Night
Matheson (lower body) won't play Wednesday versus the Maple Leafs, Jean-Francois Chaumont of Le Journal de Montreal reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson underwent an MRI on Wednesday, so more information regarding the severity of his lower-body issue should be released in the coming days. With Matheson on the shelf, look for Arber Xhekaj to make his NHL debut against Toronto.
Oct 10, 2022
Day-to-day with lower-body injury
Matheson is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's availability for the start of the 2022-23 season has not been determined yet. He is projected to be a top-pairing defender for the Canadiens this year and could see time on the power play as well.
Jul 16, 2022
Headed to Montreal
The Penguins traded Matheson and a 2023 fourth-round pick to the Canadiens in exchange for Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling on Saturday, PuckPedia reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson had arguably his best season yet in 2021-22, setting career highs in goals (11), assists (20), plus-minus rating (plus-12) and hits (97) while averaging 18:48 of ice time through 74 appearances with Pittsburgh. He'll likely get more ice time with Montreal in 2022-23, but his offensive production will almost certainly decline with a Habs team that isn't expected to compete for a playoff spot.
May 23, 2022
Posts new career bests
Matheson garnered 11 goals and 20 assists, both career highs, in 74 games this season, inducing five game-winning goals.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's offensive game was on full display this season even if he was an afterthought on the man advantage for most of the campaign. If the team decides to move on from Kris Letang this offseason, it will almost certainly be the 28-year-old Matheson who is tasked with trying to fill the offensive gap left behind.
May 7, 2022
Dishes trio of helpers
Matheson recorded three assists, four shots on goal and two hits in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Rangers in Game 3.
ANALYSIS
The first two of Matheson's assists came on power-play goals by Jeff Carter and Evan Rodrigues in the first period. He added one more helper on a Jake Guentzel empty-netter in the third. Matheson is up to four assists in three playoff contests, and he's seen a larger role alongside Kris Letang on the top pairing with Brian Dumoulin (lower body) sidelined.
Apr 6, 2022
Scores again Tuesday
Matheson scored a goal on one shot versus the Avalanche on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has goals in back-to-back games for the second time this season which continues a strong offensive turnaround. Since rejoining the lineup following a five-game absence in early March, the blueliner has registered seven points, 27 shots and 20 hits in 13 outings.
Mar 17, 2022
Continues strong play
Matheson ripped a goal and collected four hits in a 3-2 win over the Blues on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Matheson now has two goals and an assist across his last four games since coming off of the IR (upper body). Missing five games seems to have revitalized him though, as he had just three points in eight February games.
Mar 11, 2022
Removed from IR
Matheson (upper body) was activated off injured reserve, per the NHL media site.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has missed the last five games while recovering from an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old has averaged 18:23 of ice time and generated three points over his last 10 appearances.
Mar 10, 2022
Approaching return
Matheson (upper body) returned to full practice Thursday, per Wes Crosby of NHL.com.
ANALYSIS
Matheson was upgraded to day-to-day status Thursday. He has missed the last five games while dealing with an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old has averaged 18:15 of ice time and generated 21 points over 50 games this season.
Mar 4, 2022
Lands on IR
Matheson (upper body) was placed on injured reserve Friday, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has missed the last three games while dealing with an upper-body injury and will miss a fourth consecutive game Friday due to his placement on injured reserve. The 28-year-old defenseman has averaged 18:23 of ice time and tallied three points over his last 10 appearances.
Feb 25, 2022
Labeled week-to-week
Matheson iis dealing with a week-to-week upper-body injury.
ANALYSIS
This news will rule Matheson out for at least this weekend's back-to-back games against the Rangers and Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old blueliner has 21 points while averaging 18:15 of ice time through 50 games this season. Mark Friedman should see some playing time as a result of Matheson's injury.
Feb 13, 2022
Goal and assist in win
Matheson scored a goal on four shots and added an assist in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Devils.
ANALYSIS
Matheson tied the game at 1-1 with his second-period tally. He also set up Brian Boyle on the game-winner in the third. This was Matheson's fifth multi-point game of the season. The 27-year-old is on pace for a career year with 21 points, 81 shots on net, 63 hits, 49 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating through 45 contests. His career high is 27 points, a mark he achieved in each of the two most recent non-shortened seasons.
Jan 22, 2022
Another game-winner Friday
Matheson scored a goal and an assist in Friday's 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
Both point came in the third period, and his tally stood up as the winner. Remarkably, Matheson has five game-winning goals this season, and he's only found the back of the net six times in total to go along with 12 assists through 37 games.
Jan 20, 2022
Two-goal, three-point outburst
Matheson scored two goals and added an assist in Thursday's 6-4 win over Ottawa.
ANALYSIS
Matheson came in with just three goals in 35 games, but he was feeling it in this one and produced just his third multi-point effort of the season and first three-point performance. The 27-year-old blueliner's second goal of the night gave Pittsburgh a 5-1 lead in the second period, but it surprisingly turned into the game-winner after the Senators put forth a failed comeback bid in the third. Remarkably, four of Matheson's five goals this season have been game-winners.
Jan 17, 2022
Ends point drought with assist
Matheson notched an assist, three hits and a plus-2 rating in Monday's 5-3 win over the Golden Knights.
ANALYSIS
Matheson helped out on a Teddy Blueger goal in the second period. The assist ended a seven-game point drought for Matheson. He went minus-1 with 11 shots and 11 hits during the cold spell. The 27-year-old has typically played in a bottom-four role this season, logging 13 points, 56 shots on net, 47 hits, 31 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating. His role on the second power-play unit could draw some fantasy interest in deep formats since his offense is serviceable.
Jan 1, 2022
Clears virus protocols
Matheson exited the NHL's COVID-19 protocols Saturday, per Dave Molinari of DKPittsburghSports.com.
ANALYSIS
Matheson has recorded two goals and three assists through his eight December appearances this season. He logged points in three consecutive games leading up to his COVID-19 diagnosis. The 27-year-old will seek to pick his season up right where he left off, starting with San Jose on Sunday.
Dec 27, 2021
In COVID-19 protocol
The Penguins placed Matheson in COVID-19 protocol Monday.
ANALYSIS
The length of Matheson's absence depends on test results and any potential symptoms. The bottom-pair defenseman has accumulated three goals and nine assists through 27 games this season.
Dec 19, 2021
Nets goal in win
Matheson scored a goal on three shots, levied two hits and added two PIM in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Devils.
ANALYSIS
Matheson's third-period tally ultimately stood as the game-winner. The defenseman is up to three goals, 12 points, 44 shots on net, 33 hits, 25 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in 27 appearances. The Penguins haven't mixed things up among their blueliners much, so Matheson should continue to see a third-pairing role.
Dec 11, 2021
Two points against Caps
Matheson notched two assists in Friday's 4-2 win over the Capitals.
ANALYSIS
He had a hand in Pittsburgh's first two goals of the night, helping to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Matheson snapped a nine-game point drought with the performance, and on the season the veteran blueliner has one goal and nine points through 23 games.
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