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Maple Leafs’ John Tavares challenges team to be resilient with injuries mounting
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Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Dec 30, 2025, 12:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 30, 2025, 12:29 EST
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The Toronto Maple Leafs returned from the holiday break this past weekend by picking up three out of a possible four points, with a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators and a 3-2 overtime loss in Detroit against the Red Wings. The Leafs return home to take on the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night, but with a depleted lineup as injuries pile up. 
William Nylander is set to miss his second straight game, while both Dakota Joshua and Chris Tanev have been ruled out for Tuesday night’s affair. Auston Matthews is being listed as a game-time decision with a lower-body injury, giving other players a chance to take on a bigger role against the Devils. 
“The injuries are unfortunate, but you’ve got to keep moving forward,” John Tavares said. “I think it’s always important, but even more so when you are missing some real key players, so that needs to be an opportunity for some guys to get expanded roles and more ice time.” 
The Devils find themselves sitting at 20-16-2 through 38 games, three points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils team has been known for its ability to push the pace and get up the ice quickly, something that they showed in the team’s first matchup of the season when the Devils defeated the Leafs 5-2 in October. 
“Pushing against a team like we’re playing tonight, that’s obviously very talented, very good, very dynamic and has lots of speed,” Tavares said. “The way we execute shift-to-shift, line-to-line will be imperative.”
The Leafs are 2-0-1 in their past three games, starting to put together a better stretch after losing five of six in mid-December. When asked if having players miss time could halt the momentum, Tavares was quick to point out that these circumstances can be used as growth opportunities. 
“That’s our choice in here, to continue to build off the good things we’ve been doing and continue to work on things that need to continue to get better,” Tavares said. “Whatever circumstances and challenges arise, you face them head-on and look forward to the challenge.” 
The Leafs have started to play a better brand of hockey lately after a rough stretch in December, something Tavares touched on at the Leafs’ morning skate. 
“I think some things structurally have been a little bit more sound for us, allowing our game to speed up and utilize the skill sets that we have,” Tavares said. “The attitude and mindset of kind of whatever happens, we’re just going to respond, keep playing and keep competing, whatever happens, good or bad.” 
The Leafs’ game hasn’t felt like it has touched its peak all season, with players, coaches, fans and management all feeling like there is a next level for this team to get to. 
“I still feel like there’s more of a complete game for us and we’ve got to continue to stay at it and do a good job of it,” Tavares said. 
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST for the Leafs’ final home game before the calendar flips to 2026. 

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