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As if things weren’t bad enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs, center Auston Matthews was not in the lineup on Tuesday night for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins.
Toronto is facing elimination, down 3-1, in the series.
Matthews, who led the NHL with 69 goals during the regular season, has been feeling the effects of an illness. He left Game 4 Saturday night after the second period and did not practice on Monday. He participated in the first few minutes of the morning skate on Tuesday before leaving the ice.
There have been reports that Matthews is also dealing with an injury.
“This time of year, every one of the players are [going to] do all that they can to get out there,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said via Joe Pohoryles of NHL.com. after the morning skate. “And then the medical team is [going to] do all they can to make sure the players are available while also making sure that they’re taken care of, so that’s what we’re working through.”
Matthews has a goal and two assists for three points in the series.