Matthews was named captain of the Maple Leafs on Aug. 14, taking over for John Tavares, who passed along the role to star forward. Matthews is the 26th captain in the club's history and the first US-born player to wear the "C' for Toronto.

Auston Matthews will wear the 'C' for the red, white and blue. The Toronto Maple Leafs star has been named captain for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament set for next month in Montreal and Boston.

Bobby McMann — who made his debut on the top line — had the lone goal for the Leafs as Toronto fell short 2-1 to Ottawa.

Matthews dealt with a nagging upper-body injury earlier this season, but after looking himself since early January is a full go for USA at the tournament.

Following a well-attended Tuesday morning practice in Toronto, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided an exciting update on John Tavares and Matthew Knies.

TORONTO — Jared Spurgeon and Marat Khusnutdinov scored in the first period, Filip Gustavsson stopped 31 shots, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Wednesday night. Marcus Foligno added an empty-netter in the final minute as Minnesota won its second straight to improve to 3-5-0 in their last eight games.

Auston Matthews will head the United States’ leadership group at the 4 Nations Face-Off. USA Hockey announced on Thursday afternoon that the Maple Leafs captain will be its captain for the event in Montreal and Boston, running from Feb. 12-20. Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and Charlie McAvoy each will wear an ‘A’ for the United States.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has been chosen to lead the American squad at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, USA Hockey announced Thursday.

Against Minnesota, William Nylander provided Toronto’s lone goal. The defeat marked the team’s third straight regulation loss, a tough stretch before the Maple Leafs embark on a four-game Western Canada trip leading up to the 4 Nations Face-Off pause.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Domi (11) falls on the ice as goaltender Joseph Woll (60) prepares to make a save in front of Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk (7 ... Pinto scored his ninth of the season after Matthew Highmore’s pass deflected off Pinto’s ...

Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and two assists, Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 shots for his second shutout of the season, and Florida beat Los Angeles.