Auston Matthews playing at home for the holidays

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Rookie center Auston Matthews had one thought when the Toronto Maple Leafs plane touched down in Phoenix early Friday morning.
"Go home and get some sleep," Matthews said.

He's the only Maple Leafs player who could have actually done that. Matthews, 19, grew up in nearby Scottsdale. His parents and sisters are still there, all home for the holidays, waiting for him to join them. All of his friends are home for the holidays too.
Of course, Matthews didn't go home. He went on the team bus to the hotel adjacent to Gila River Arena and went to bed there for some sleep after scoring his 16th goal of the season in a 6-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center in Denver on Thursday.
When he woke up, all Matthews had to do was look out his window to see the mountains in the distance to realize what was about to happen.
Matthews, Scottsdale-raised, will play his first NHL game in his home state when the Maple Leafs take on the Arizona Coyotes on Friday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A, SNO, NHL.TV). He said he's trying to treat this one like a normal game, but he also realizes there's no way it is going to be.

"This is where I grew up. This is where I live," Matthews said. "It's definitely special coming back here to play the team you grew up watching. It's definitely going to be pretty unique."
Matthews is not immune to the local buzz around this game. He knows he'll have dozens of family members and friends in the stands watching. He said this will be the first time his grandparents will see him play an NHL game.
"It's definitely been circled on the calendar for a while," Matthews said. "It's going to be a great night for my whole family. We've been to a bunch of these games before. Usually we're sitting in the stands. To be out there skating, I'm sure it's going to be a great moment for my family."
Matthews also knows there will be hundreds of kids in the stands wearing jerseys from youth hockey programs he used to play for, including the Arizona Bobcats and Phoenix Jr. Coyotes. He'll take a picture with them and injured Coyotes forward Max Domi after the game.

Matthews is their new role model, their inspiration. The prevailing thought here, regardless if it isn't realistic for most, if not all, is if Matthews can make it, so can they.
"I know I had people I looked up to growing up in the Valley," Matthews said, "whether it was guys that were older than me that I still skate with and train with today, or guys that have been on the Coyotes like Shane Doan, Daniel Briere, Keith Tkachuk. It's definitely pretty humbling to be a role model for kids growing up here in the Valley. It's pretty special."
It's special for the Maple Leafs as well, according to coach Mike Babcock.
"We want him to walk out of here proud," Babcock said.
Babcock will give Matthews a chance to soak up the atmosphere early by letting him take the opening faceoff.
"I would think that anybody coming in here tonight would have him start," Babcock said.
But first, Babcock wanted Matthews to be sure he got himself zoned in to play following a morning workout and quick team meeting at the arena.
"I just said to him, 'Turn your phone off, go get some sleep, come back here ready to play,' " Babcock said.
Matthews, who has 25 points (16 goals, nine assists) in 32 games, second among NHL rookies behind Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets with 30 points (19 goals, 11 assists) in 36 games, didn't sound like a player too worried about his preparation.
"I like to think you rise to the occasion every night, but especially these games, you want to make a statement," he said. "You want to come out and play well. It's a big two points for us but I know personally I definitely want to have a good night."

Even if he doesn't, Matthews definitely will be going home to get some sleep when it's over. He'll hop in the car with his parents and sisters and drive to their Scottsdale home to start a three-day holiday break, his first Christmas at home since before he left home to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2013.
"It's cool," Babcock said. "I want him to soak it up and enjoy the whole thing. Why wouldn't you?"