Auston Matthews Injury Update: Maple Leafs Star’s Status Uncertain as Must-Win Game 5 looms.
The Bruins have Toronto on the brink of elimination, and Matthews is still suffering with an illness.
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews missed Saturday’s 3-1 Game 4 loss to the Boston Bruins due to sickness. His availability for Tuesday’s Game 5 remains doubtful.
Matthews battled through the illness in Game 3, and he tried again in Game 4, but was unable to do so. The team physicians decided to withdraw Matthews from Saturday’s game.
“We believed the last few days would benefit us,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “But, for whatever reason, it is not one of those common ailments that come and go. This one has persisted, and the consequences have grown worse when he gets on the ice and asserts himself.”
Keefe hoped that having an off day on Sunday would allow Matthews to regain some of his strength for Game 5.
The Maple Leafs are in a must-win situation in Game 5, behind 3-1 in the first round series. Toronto was losing 3-0 in the second period when Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander got into a violent confrontation on the bench.
When it comes to the team’s three great forwards, Matthews has been the most productive thus far. Matthews shares the team scoring lead with Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi with three points each. The standout center had a goal and two assists in the team’s Game 2 victory, including the game-winning goal.
Marner has only two points, while Nylander made hisso postsean debut in Game 4 after missing the first three games of the series. The Maple Leafs’ offense has been weak, with only seven goals scored since the Stanley Cup Playoffs began.
Auston Matthews remains questionable for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who face the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, NESN, SNP, SNO, SNE, TVAS, CBC).
The forward is set to travel with the club but did not practice Monday due to an illness that forced him to leave Game 4 at Scotiabank Arena after the second period on Saturday. Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals in 81 regular-season games. He has three points (one goal, two assists) in four games this series, all of which came in Toronto’s 3-2 victory in Game 2.
The Maple Leafs now behind 3-1 in the best-of-7 series.
“His status for tomorrow is unknown,” stated coach Sheldon Keefe.
Toronto practiced Monday as if Matthews would not be available. Max Domi replaced Matthews on a line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Marner, while John Tavares played center between Matthew Knies and William Nylander.
“Of course, we hope that he is available, feeling well, and returning to himself,” Keefe added. “That’s what we’re hoping for, but we’ve performed well without players in the past. We started the series without William Nylander and had to deal with that, as well as similar issues in the regular season, but we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
Matthews was also absent from practice on Friday, before to Game 4. Connor Dewar took his spot on that skate.
“It’s not ideal to be without Auston Matthews — he’s one of the finest players in the world,” said Maple Leafs captain John Tavares. “But there is amazing depth, talent, and character on this squad, and it’s an excellent opportunity for all of us to step up and raise our game, which is already required.”
Faced with the possibility of ending their season on Tuesday and doubt surrounding their best player, Domi said the squad is optimistic heading into Game 5.
“The boys were really optimistic, super jumpy, and a hungry group,” Domi explained. “It was an excellent 45-minute shift out there. The lads are feeling fantastic.
“We’re as confident as we can be. Just need to win a game. Starts with a nice first shift from each person, and then we’ll go from there.”
