Matthews was out for maintenance. He also skipped out on the club's full morning skate ahead of Game 3.
Matthews was out for maintenance. He also skipped out on the club's full morning skate ahead of Game 3.
Auston Matthews did not take part in Toronto Maple Leafs practice on Friday, the club's first session since their series with the Boston Bruins began last week.
The Maple Leafs said the player missed the session due to maintenance with various reports saying that the star forward has been dealing with a case of food poisoning..
"Things are ok, he needed another day today just to help restore his energy and recharge and all those kind of things so we'll see where he's at tomorrow as well," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Matthews.
It's believed that it's the same reason why Matthews was unable to participate in the team's full morning skate on Wednesday ahead of their Game 3 loss to the Bruins.
Matthews, of course, still played in the club's 4-2 loss to Boston, but battling a bug could certainly explain why he wasn't as dominant as he was in Game 2, when the NHL's leading goal scorer punched in the game-winning goal and added two assists in their 3-2 victory.
A fully healthy Matthews could make the difference for a Maple Leafs team that trails the Bruins 2-1 in their best-of-seven series. If they can also get William Nylander back from a reported migraine issue, it'll be as close to a fully healthy a roster Toronto will have iced in the series.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SSLHvbE6nI[/embed]
Bobby McMann, who has been out since Apr 13 with a lower-body injury, has yet to take the ice with the club.
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