With the Toronto Maple Leafs going through elimination in Recreation 5 towards the Boston Bruins, the standing of their greatest star remains to be murky. Auston Matthews, who has been coping with a lingering sickness, might be a game-time choice on Tuesday night time.

Matthews missed apply on Monday, however he was on the ice for the early portion of Tuesday’s elective morning skate. Nevertheless, he left earlier than drills started. Following the skate, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe stated Matthews’ standing for Recreation 5 has not been decided but.

“Clearly he was on the ice in the present day, so he is working by issues to attempt to make himself accessible to play,” Keefe stated, in response to NHL.com. “No willpower right now.”

With Matthews restricted by the sickness, the Maple Leafs’ offense has sputtered within the first 4 video games towards the Bruins. Toronto has averaged 1.75 objectives per recreation up to now, and if Matthews cannot go in Recreation 5, staying alive within the collection turns into a steep uphill climb for the Leafs.

Matthews performed by the sickness in Recreation 3, and he tried to energy by as soon as once more in Recreation 4 however wasn’t in a position to take action. The workforce docs ended up pulling Matthews from Saturday’s recreation.

“We thought the final couple of days would assist us,” Keefe stated. “However, for no matter purpose, it is not a kind of run-of-the-mill sort of diseases that kind of comes and goes. This one has lingered, and the results have lingered and gotten worse when he is acquired on the ice and is asserting himself.”

On the subject of the workforce’s three celebrity forwards, Matthews has positively been the most efficient so far. He is tied with fellow forwards Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi for the workforce lead in factors (3). The star middle registered a purpose and two assists within the workforce’s Recreation 2 win, together with scoring the game-winning purpose.