Whenever Auston Matthews gets injured, the Maple Leafs automatically turn to John Tavares to take a bigger role.

“Everyone has to step up and go out there and do your job,” said Tavares. “Play the way we need to play.”

He is back to being a No. 1 centre, a role he was quite familiar with in nine seasons with the New York Islanders and his first year or two in Toronto. He doesn’t make too much of it.

“I don’t really try to change a whole lot,” said the 35-year-old Tavares. “In general, I try to be really good all over the ice, make sure the process to my game is really strong playing with and without the puck.”

Perhaps in a nod to his age or the belief that the Leafs have more depth, Tavares’ average ice time is the lowest of his career. He was averaging 17:37 a game before Matthe

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