The Toronto Maple Leafs will need to stave off elimination without their top goal scorer once again as Auston Matthews will miss his 2nd straight game after being pulled in Game 4 due to illness.
While Matthews did manage to get in a private skate with injured forward Bobby McMann on Thursday morning, he did not return for the team skate later that day. Head coach Sheldon Keefe then confirmed that the 26 year old would be unavailable for their clash with the Bruins later that evening.
Speculation around the league is that the Rocket Richard winner is dealing with both an illness and an undisclosed injury at the moment.
With a goal and two assists through 4 games, Matthews currently sits 2nd on the Leafs in postseason scoring trailing only Max Domi (1G, 3A). With their top goal scorer sidelined, and Mitch Marner and William Nylander currently serving as the Toronto media’s whipping boys, the once vaunted “Core Four” has now only been on the ice together for a total of 2 periods in their first round series vs. Boston.
If the Maple Leafs are able to extend the series with a victory on home ice tonight, Game 7 would take place on Saturday at 8pm ET at TD Garden.
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