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Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1786059227238146304 the team’s Game 6 matchup against the Boston Bruins as he continues to work through an illness and undisclosed injury.
Matthews previously sat out Toronto’s Game 5 win over Boston. The Leafs trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series as Matthews has spent nearly the entire series dealing with the illness.
Matthews skated with the team Wednesday, but there was no update on his status at that time.
“Other players gotta step up, right? Nothing else we can do about it,” Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit said. “If he’s not in the lineup, we just gotta figure out how to win.”
Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals during the regular season and was sixth in points with 107. He’s expected to be among the finalists for the Hart Trophy, although the award will almost certainly go to Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon.
Toronto was an underdog coming into the series against Boston, and losing its best player will do nothing to help matters. The Leafs have home-ice advantage Thursday night, so their fingers will be crossed they’ll be able to hold off for a Game 7 where Matthews can return.
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