Matthews stays questionable for Maple Leafs in Sport 5 of Japanese 1st Spherical – NHL.com

Toronto may very well be with out NHL’s main goal-scorer with season on line in opposition to Bruins
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TORONTO — Auston Matthews stays questionable for the Toronto Maple Leafs when their season is on the road in Sport 5 of the Japanese Convention First Spherical in opposition to the Boston Bruins at TD Backyard in Boston on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, NESN, SNP, SNO, SNE, TVAS, CBC).
The ahead was briefly on the ice for the morning skate Tuesday; he didn’t observe Monday after not taking part in within the third interval of a 3-1 loss in Sport 4 at Scotiabank Area on Saturday due to an sickness. Matthews led the NHL with 69 objectives in 81 regular-season video games. He has three factors (one aim, two assists) in 4 video games within the collection, all coming in Toronto’s 3-2 win in Sport 2.
The Maple Leafs path 3-1 within the best-of-7 collection.
“His standing is but to be decided for tomorrow,” coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned.
Toronto practiced Monday as if Matthews wouldn’t be obtainable. Max Domi changed Matthews on a line with left wing Tyler Bertuzzi and proper wing Mitch Marner, and John Tavares performed middle between left wing Matthew Knies and proper wing William Nylander.
“After all we’re hopeful that he’s obtainable and feeling good and again to himself,” Keefe mentioned. “That’s what we’re longing for, however we’ve performed nicely with out guys up to now. We began the collection with out William Nylander and needed to take care of that and within the common season, the identical sort of issues, however we are going to see what tomorrow brings.”
Matthews was additionally absent from observe Friday previous to Sport 4. Connor Dewar, took his spot at that skate.
“It’s not supreme to be with out Auston Matthews — you’re speaking about top-of-the-line gamers on the planet,” mentioned Tavares, the Maple Leafs captain. “However there’s large depth, expertise and character on this crew, and it’s an awesome alternative for all of us to step up and lift our sport, which is already wanted and mandatory.”
Confronted with the potential of getting their season finish Tuesday and uncertainty surrounding their greatest participant, Domi insisted the crew is feeling constructive heading into Sport 5.
“The boys have been tremendous constructive, tremendous jumpy, have been a hungry group,” Domi mentioned. “It was an awesome 45-minute little shift on the market. The boys are feeling good.
“Assured as we will be. Simply need to win a sport. Begins with a great first shift from each man and simply go from there.”
Keefe declined to substantiate who would begin in aim for Sport 5. Ilya Samsonov, who has began every of the primary 4 video games, was pulled in Sport 4 after the second interval, having allowed three objectives on 17 pictures. Joseph Woll stopped all 5 pictures he confronted within the third interval.
Toronto is 35-19-2 all-time with out Matthews within the lineup. Within the one sport he missed this season, it defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-0 on Dec. 16.
Nylander, who mentioned he felt good in his collection debut in Sport 4 after lacking the primary three video games with an undisclosed damage, is assured the Maple Leafs will pressure a Sport 6, even when Matthews is just not obtainable.
“All year long, guys have been out of the lineup, and I imply, I feel we’ve rallied collectively as a crew throughout these instances,” Nylander mentioned. “So, if that’s the case, then that’s what we should do.”
If Toronto goes to increase the collection, it might want to discover a approach to rating extra constantly. Simply as soon as in its previous 11 playoff video games, relationship again to Sport 5 in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning within the 2023 Japanese Convention First Spherical, has it scored greater than two objectives (Sport 2, a 3-2 win in opposition to the Bruins). The Maple Leafs are 1-for-14 within the collection on the ability play (7.1 p.c).
“It’s persevering with to give attention to what we will management, which was right now’s observe, and speaking by means of our changes and the issues we wish to do higher or in a different way going into tomorrow’s sport,” Keefe mentioned. “In that sense, you put together for it as you’ll some other sport. There’s just one sport on the schedule proper now, so let’s hold the give attention to that and earn the subsequent one.”
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
🔹 Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
🔹 New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
🔹 Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders
🔹 Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights
🔹 Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche
🔹 Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
🔹 Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

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