Matthews making progress, no determination on Game 7 status
Published
Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is making progress, but no determination has been made on his availability for Saturday's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Matthews skated Friday after missing a second straight game on Thursday night.
The Maple Leafs have won two straight games without Matthews to keep their season alive, with William Nylander playing the role of hero with two goals in Game 6.
Matthews was ruled out of the team's 2-1 victory on Thursday morning after skating with injured forward Bobby McMann well ahead of the team session.
The 26-year-old centre has not player since being pulled from the team's Game 4 loss due to illness. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reported Tuesday that Matthews is believed to be dealing with an injury in addition to the illness confirmed by the Maple Leafs. Keefe said prior to Game 5 that Matthews was doing everything he could to play, but the decision would ultimately fall into the hands of the team doctors.
Matthews has a goal and three points in the playoffs after scoring 69 goals to win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in the regular season.
Keefe speaks on struggling power play
With or without Matthews, the Maple Leafs power play has failed to create chances against the Bruins, going just one-for-20 in the series.
Keefe told reporters Friday that the team has made changes to the power play throughout the series, with some of their issues boiling down to execution.
"We're not going to decline the power play, no," Keefe said in jest when asked about the struggles.
"No better time for it to happen than Game 7," he added.
The Maple Leafs power play had a success rate of 24 per cent during the regular season before going cold in the playoffs.
More details to follow.