(Toronto) Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has been sidelined due to a “long-term illness” as his team faces elimination from the current playoffs.
About 14 hours after watching his team lose 3-1 at home in Game 4 of the series against the Boston Bruins, Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe gave an update on the health of his star player, Sunday afternoon.
Matthews suffers from more than just a “normal illness,” Keefe said, adding that the symptoms worsen when the 26-year-old takes to the ice.
Matthews scored 69 goals this season. He scored the winning goal in the second game of the series in Boston to tie the score at 1-1.
But Matthews was clearly not at his best during the 4-2 loss in Game 3. He was then withdrawn from the fourth duel on Saturday.
The Maple Leafs lost to the Bruins in seven games in the 2013, 2018 and 2019 playoffs.
The Bruins can eliminate their opponents in five games at home on Tuesday. If the Maple Leafs win, Game 6 will be played in Toronto on Thursday.
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