Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews to miss Game 6 of first-round series against Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) reacts after Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand scored an empty-net goal during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews will miss Thursday night's Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.
Coach Sheldon Keefe said following Thursday's morning skate that Matthews would be unavailable with Toronto trailing 3-2 in its first-round playoff series.
Matthews, who led the NHL with 69 goals in the regular season, was pulled from Game 4 with an illness and didn’t play in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime victory in Boston with the Leafs facing elimination.
The 26-year-old center skated for about 30 minutes Thursday morning before Toronto’s playing group took the ice.
The Leafs were also without star winger William Nylander for the first three games of the best-of-seven matchup.
Game 7, if necessary, would be Saturday in Boston.
Leafs captain John Tavares says Toronto has dealt with big absences in the past.
Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) and Morgan Rielly (44) react after Boston Bruins' Brad Marchand scored an empty-net goal during the third period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Toronto on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Credit: AP/Nathan Denette
“It’s the nature of the game, the sport,” he said. “Guys responded really well last game. We gotta play together as a group, everyone stepping up and doing more.
“Not one guy trying to fill his shoes.”
