Maple Leafs rule out Auston Matthews for Sport 6 vs. Bruins – ESPN

Toronto’s Matthew Knies scores the time beyond regulation objective to stun the Boston crowd in Sport 5. (0:37)
TORONTO — Maple Leafs ahead Auston Matthews has been dominated out for Sport 6 of the first-round Stanley Cup playoff sequence in opposition to the Bruins on Thursday.
The Leafs path the Bruins 3-2 within the best-of-seven sequence and face elimination with one other loss.
Matthews missed the third interval of Sport 4 and all of Sport 5 with what the Leafs have deemed a “lingering” sickness.
Toronto’s high middle has skated on his personal the previous three days — together with for practically half-hour previous to the Leafs’ morning skate Thursday — however coach Sheldon Keefe stated it will be the group’s docs in the end making a name on whether or not Matthews made it into the lineup.
Toronto already prolonged its sequence as soon as with out Matthews obtainable once they topped Boston 2-1 in time beyond regulation of Sport 5. The Leafs deliberate to make use of an analogous blueprint in Sport 6 to grind the Bruins down and even the sequence one final time.
“It is a bit of the human nature piece; you acknowledge everybody must be higher,” Keefe stated of the Leafs performing effectively with out Matthews. “It is extra the boldness our group has and the way we have responded when gamers have been out. You have to discover a strategy to win a sport … I feel that piece is vital. Now we have confidence there, we’ve got belief within the group, and if something, it simply reveals the energy of the group and never seeking to others, however simply doing all of your half.”
Max Domi moved into Matthews’ top-line middle spot in Sport 5 and was dominant within the faceoff dot (85.7%) whereas notching one help. He additionally took over Matthews’ spot with Toronto’s high energy play, which is a dismal 1-for-17 within the postseason. The Leafs additionally shuffled William Nylander — nonetheless adjusting to the postseason after being sidelined by damage for the primary three video games — to their second line.
Toronto did get a herculean effort from Matthews — who gained his third Rocket Richard Trophy this season by pacing the league with 69 targets — previous to his sickness absence by means of a three-point efficiency within the Leafs’ Sport 2 victory.
Lacking that kind of difference-maker could be a hindrance for many groups, however the Leafs discovered methods to fill the Matthews void with a next-man-up mentality.
“Possibly as an alternative of counting on him, we’re determined to play good, as a result of one in all our greatest gamers is out of the lineup,” Nick Robertson stated. “If you understand you do not have a close to 70-goal scorer within the lineup, we have to discover a strategy to play effectively.”
Toronto has no alternative on that entrance. The Leafs enter Sport 6 looking for their first playoff win on residence ice on this sequence and have misplaced six consecutive postseason contests in their very own constructing courting again to final 12 months. They will have one ultimate likelihood to vary that and push the sequence to Boston for a decisive Sport 7 — when Matthews could, or could not, have the ability to return.
“It is troublesome when among the best gamers on this planet is not obtainable,” John Tavares stated. “But it surely’s the character of the sport. Guys responded very well final sport and it is the identical kind of mentality. We have got to step up and do extra and never have one man attempting to fill [Matthews] footwear.”

source