SUMMARY
As if the task wasn’t already complicated enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they will have to avoid elimination without Auston Matthews for Game 5 of the series against the Boston Bruins.
The Leafs will need three straight wins to get back into their series against Boston and avoid another early elimination in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
Matthews, who missed practice Monday, led the Leafs to their only victory in the series with a three-point effort in Game 2 last Monday at TD Garden. It was shortly after this brilliant performance that the 26-year-old started feeling ill.
Max Domi took Matthews’ place on a line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Marner. Domi also took Matthews’ place on the first power play unit.
On Saturday, the team doctor asked Auston Matthews to leave Game 4 after the second period.
Another major change was made to the lineup as goaltender Joseph Woll got his first start in the series after coming in relief of Ilya Samsonov in Game 4.
Woll did not practice in the morning on Tuesday, although Samsonov and Martin Jones were there, which suggests that Woll will be the starter.
On the other hand, the Bruins can count on Jeremy Swayman, who has been dominant since the start of the series.
Swayman is 3-0 with an efficiency rating of .956, which places him 1st among goalies in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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