Auston Matthews absent from Maple Leafs practice, but no concern from coach Berube
Toronto's captain gets a second day off in a row after entire team rested on Sunday.
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There was no sign of captain Auston Matthews at Maple Leafs practice on Monday.
And, from coach Craig Berube, no concern regarding the status of his No. 1 centre.
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Auston Matthews absent from Maple Leafs practice, but no concern from coach Berube Back to video
The Leafs’ explanation is that it was a day of rest for Matthews.
There was nothing to indicate Matthews won’t be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday, when the Leafs, ahead 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, get another chance to eliminate the Ottawa Senators.
In the Leafs’ 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4 on Saturday, Matthews was on the ice for 26 minutes, 23 seconds. Among Leafs forwards, only Mitch Marner (28 minutes 26 seconds) played more.
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“I look at the minutes,” Berube said. “Played a lot of minutes last game. I have conversations with guys about it. They feel like they need a little more rest, I think it’s a good thing.”
True, perhaps, but we might not need to point out how rare it is for a player to take a day off following a full day off, as the players were off on Sunday. There’s the possibility that Matthews, who has one goal and four assists in the series, is playing through an issue. Matthews has dealt with an upper-body injury at times during the season and missed 15 games.
Goalie Joseph Woll also was not on the ice at the Ford Performance Centre. Berube said Woll was “under the weather.”
With Matthews absent, David Kampf took his place between Marner and Matthew Knies on the top line.
“I think he’s just doing what he needs to do to get himself ready to play and be at his best,” John Tavares said of Matthews. “We know what kind of player he is. The drive that he has to play and compete, he’s doing what he has to do to get ready.”
Nick Robertson was an extra in line rushes, an indication he will sit for the third game in a row. Max Pacorietty stayed on a line with Max Domi and Bobby McMann.
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