Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Leafs without Matthews in win-or-go-home G5

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Tuesday, 30 April 2024 16:29

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews will not play in Game 5 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Bruins on Tuesday night in Boston.

Toronto trails in the best-of-seven series, 3-1.

Matthews has dealt with a lingering illness for more than a week, and the symptoms have been exacerbated during games. Coach Sheldon Keefe declined to comment earlier Tuesday if Matthews is battling an undisclosed injury in addition to the sickness.

Keefe said it would be the Leafs' team doctors making the final call on whether Matthews would dress.

"He's working through things to try to make himself available to play. No determination at this time," Keefe said Tuesday morning. "We'll see how the rest of the day goes."

Matthews did skate Tuesday prior to the team's optional morning skate at TD Garden. He spent about 10 minutes going through some light drill work with assistant coaches and departed before the full session got underway.

It was the first time Matthews had been on the ice since being pulled by team doctors before the third period of Game 4 on Saturday.

Matthews played through his sickness in Game 3, a 4-2 Leafs loss, and stayed in through the first 40 minutes of Toronto's 3-1 defeat in Game 4. The Leafs' top center had his best outing in Game 2, tallying all three points he's earned this series, including the game-winning goal.

With Matthews not able to play, Max Domi moves up to Matthews' top line spot and William Nylander goes to the team's second line. Domi also will take Matthews' spot on the Leafs' sputtering power play, which is 1-for-11 in the playoffs.

Toronto is eyeing a change in net as well for Game 5, going from Ilya Samsonov to Joseph Woll. Samsonov had started all four games against Boston but was replaced by Woll for the third period of Game 4 after Samsonov allowed three goals on 16 shots. Woll made five saves in relief.

The 25-year-old had a solid regular season primarily backing up for Samsonov, collecting a 12-11-1 record with a .907 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average. Woll got his first taste of NHL postseason hockey last year when Samsonov was injured in the second round of the playoffs against Florida and Woll took over the crease, posting a .915 SV% and a 2.43 GAA.

"For a young guy he's pretty steady," Leafs forward Ryan Reaves said of Woll. "I think he's excited to get in there and do his thing. We're a confident bunch when he's in the net."

Keefe stressed after Monday's practice the importance of Toronto improving on special teams and goaltending if it was to stay alive for Game 6. Boston has halted its goalie rotation and stuck with Jeremy Swayman for three of the four games, and he's been excellent (3-0-0, .956 SV%, 1.34 GAA). The Bruins' power play has also given the Leafs' fits at 6-for-13 in the series.

Boston planned to go with Swayman again for Game 5.

Read 100 times

Soccer

NL quarterfinal draw: Spain to face Netherlands

NL quarterfinal draw: Spain to face Netherlands

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe draw for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals was made on Frid...

Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates

Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFind out who is missing through injury, who's in a race against tim...

Premier League changes APT rules after City case

Premier League changes APT rules after City case

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Premier League has announced changes to its Associated Party Tr...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pistons' Cunningham exits vs. Hornets after fall

Pistons' Cunningham exits vs. Hornets after fall

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Detroit guard Cade Cunningham left Thursday nigh...

George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 games

George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPhiladelphia 76ers star Paul George has a bone bruise in his left k...

Baseball

Ohtani 'slowly ramping up' in post-surgery rehab

Ohtani 'slowly ramping up' in post-surgery rehab

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing fr...

City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium

City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The St. Petersburg City Council reversed co...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated