Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews is still feeling the effects of an illness that forced him from the third period of Toronto's 3-1 loss in Game 4 of Toronto's first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Bruins on Saturday.
May 2024 - Toronto Maple Leafs Wiretap
Auston Matthews Held Out Of Third Period Due To Illness
Star center Auston Matthews did not finish Saturday's Game 4 because of an illness, as the Toronto Maple Leafs fell 3-1 to the Boston Bruins.
Toronto now finds itself on the brink of elimination in its first-round playoff series, with a must-win Game 5 on Tuesday in Boston.
Maple Leafs' William Nylander Game-Time Decision
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will be a game-time decision for Game 2 on Monday night in Boston with an undisclosed injury.
"We'll see how he feels here the rest of the day here and make a decision," coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters after Monday's morning skate.
Bruins Still Deciding On Goaltender For Game 2
The Bruins aren't committing to a goaltender for Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday even after Jeremy Swayman's dominant 35-save performance in Saturday's 5-1 victory in Game 1.
Boston has used Swayman and Linus Ullmark in strict rotation during the regular season, and Boston's coach Jim Montgomery may keep that pattern alive in the playoffs, too.
"We're still contemplating that and [deciding] if that's the way to go," said Montgomery following the Bruins' team meeting Sunday.
Lightning Deny Auston Matthews Quest For 70 Goals
Auston Matthews came up empty in his bid to become the ninth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season Wednesday night in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the regular-season finale.
Matthews was denied on all seven first-period shots by 29-year-old rookie goalie Matt Tomkins, then rocketed a shot off the post midway through the second period. Tomkins finished with 34 saves, including 12 on Matthews, in his sixth NHL start.
Matthews' 12 shots on goal were tied for his second-most in a game this season.
Devils' Jack Hughes Ruled Out vs. Maple Leafs
New Jersey Devils star forward Jack Hughes was ruled out of Tuesday's game against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury.
Devils interim coach Travis Green would not specify how long that Hughes would be out of action.