‘Took A Weird Hit And Couldn’t Go Any Longer’: Auston Matthews Opens Up About Illness And Possibly Injury Forced Him to Miss Games Against Bruins
After yet another disappointing and heartbreaking season end for the Toronto Maple Leafs this postseason, the club held their end-of-year media availability with players and head coach Sheldon Keefe today. Just two days removed from their Game 7 loss, the mood in Toronto quickly pivoted to reflection, the future, and most importantly – answers.
In the Maple Leafs’ 2023-24 opening-round series, there were numerous question marks regarding availability with William Nylander, Bobby McMann, Joseph Woll, and perhaps the biggest conundrum centered on superstar forward Auston Matthews.
As the Maple Leafs rallied behind Matthews’ three-point night in Game 2 to even the series at one apiece, the Arizona native frankly did not look himself in the Games following. News had broken that he was battling an illness that he played through in Game 3 before being pulled from the lineup in Game 4.
What became less clear was if there was an alternative injury interfering with Matthews’ ability to play, keeping him out of the two must-win games that followed – Games 5 and 6.
As we know how the story unfolded, Matthews suited up for Game 7 in an eventual 2-1 overtime loss to the hands of the Boston Bruins. After the loss inside TD Garden, Matthews was asked about what plagued him throughout the series, stating “Yeah, I mean, I’m not gonna get into that tonight,” Matthews told reporters.
With today’s end-of-season availability, Matthews wouldn’t go into significant detail but he did share more on the ailments he suffered throughout the seven-game series.
“It was tough. I got really sick after Game 2,” Matthews said. “I played in Game 3, obviously just kind of going through that and was still trying to recover going into Game 4, took a weird hit and couldn’t go any longer. That’s as detailed as I’m going to get.”
The 26-year-old, who had a career-high 69 goals this season, recorded a primary assist on the Maple Leafs’ lone goal in Game 7 after failing to get on the scoresheet in Games 3 and 4, adding to his four-point playoff total (1G, 3A). With 55 games of playoff experience under his belt, Matthews has racked up 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in his eight playoff appearances.
Matthews has secured his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer and piled on nominations for the Frank J. Selke Trophy and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy with more hardware possibly on the way. Though he acknowledges the nominations and regular season awards, Matthews says: “That stuff’s always nice, but it’s not fulfilling, it’s not what I’m after.” It’s clear that Matthews and the Maple Leafs have higher ambitions; to win in the postseason.
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