Matthews and Maple Leafs dealt bad news ahead of elimination game

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Cooper Godin
April 30, 2024 (9:55)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to take on the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night as they try to keep their season alive and avoid elimination in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, they may have to play tonight's game without star forward Auston Matthews.

Matthews has been dealing with what the team has called an 'illness' for the majority of their first round series against the Bruins and it caused him to miss the third period in Game 4 on Saturday night.

Former Sportsnet 590 broadcaster Howard Berger is reporting that he believes Auston Matthews is dealing with concussion symptoms after he interviewed a doctor and shared the news on BetweenThePosts.ca.

"I know that Matthews has sustained at least two concussions during his years in the NHL," said the sports clinician. "And, while I have no pertinent info, the fact the Leafs are calling it an �illness' rather than an injury � and that the issue is complicated by physical exertion � leads me to think he may have taken another shot to the head. Of course, the NHL has strict concussion protocol and the Leafs would be obligated to keep Matthews out of the line�up if he's experiencing any effects of post�concussion syndrome. I'm sort of debunking my own argument, but no one tells the truth in the playoffs. So we are left to speculate. And, I'm comfortable with the head�shot hypothesis."

It's important to take this information with a grain of salt, especially since it hasn't been officially announced what Auston Matthews is dealing with, other than reports that it could be food poisoning. But it's interesting to hear the doctor interviewed by Berger say that he thinks it could be relating to a concussion. Once the Maple Leafs are eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, we may find out exactly what was the issue with Auston Matthews, as teams tend to reveal injury information after they're knocked out.

In four games in the playoffs so far, Matthews has put up three points (one goal, two assists) and two penalty minutes, scoring an important goal in Toronto's Game 2 win.

The Maple Leafs will look to keep their season alive with a win on Tuesday night in Boston. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.

Source - Hockey Feed: Reports that Auston Matthews may be out with a concussion