Auston Matthews was not in the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
Matthews, who is dealing with an illness, skated briefly on Tuesday morning and was considered a game-time call. Coach Sheldon Keefe said at the time that the star forward was “working through things to try to make himself available.”
Matthews did not play in the third period of Toronto’s 3-1 loss in Game 4 on Saturday. He played just 14:16 and recorded a shot on goal and two hits before exiting for the Maple Leafs, who trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Matthews had a goal and two assists in Toronto’s 3-2 win in Game 2. However, he managed just four shots on goal over the next two games, both losses.
Matthews, 26, recorded career bests in goals (69) and points (107) in the 2023-24 season.
A 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner, Matthews has 649 points (368 goals, 281 assists) in 562 career games since being selected by the Maple Leafs with the top overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
