If ever there were a rallying cry for this group of Toronto Maple Leafs, this would be it. Since captain John Tavares came to Toronto, things were supposed to be different. However, with the team down three games to one to the Boston Bruins in round one of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, Auston Matthews is ill. It just seems like these are the breaks for the Leafs. Matthews missed the latter stages of game four, but it appears a lingering illness is still not improving.
"The effects have lingered and gotten worse"
Auston Matthews' health remains an issue for #Leafs – one of many they're grappling with while trying to avoid elimination in Game 5 vs. Boston:https://t.co/9pmevW4hqE
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) April 28, 2024
Auston Matthews May Miss Game Five With Illness
Now in all likelihood, Matthews will be a gametime decision for the buds on Tuesday. The extra rest will be extremely beneficial. Furthermore, with William Nylander only getting back into this series for game four, can the Leafs finally get it together?
The Top Players Can Get It Done
This really is difficult for the Leafs, because they are a way different team with Matthews than without. If the Leafs are to be successful against the seemingly stifling Bruin defence, they need to stick with what works. Auston Matthews had the most goals in a NHL single season since 1995-96. Moreover, William Nylander finished second on the club with 98 points. Mitch Marner is one of the best penalty killers in the whole league and had an average ice time of 21:17 in the regular season. Marner was hot to end the regular season after coming back from a high-ankle sprain. It is unfortunate he’s gone cold and has only a goal and an assist in four games. Matthews had eight shots and three points in game two, other than that, he’s had no points and nine shots in three games. Besides the fact that Jeremy Swayman is red hot, he’s in the Leafs shooters’ heads, right? He has to be. Oh ya, and Nylander has only played one game in the series.
Who’s Going to Do It for the Buds
Will Auston Matthews be recovered from this mysterious illness for the next game? The point is, whatever the Leafs lineup is for game five back in TD Garden, they need to play with more confidence. If your name is not Matthews or Tavares, you need to be throwing more hits. For the rest of them, shoot. If the Leafs stick to what got them here, they will be okay, even winning three straight. Conversely, if they let the Bruins in their head. If they somehow let the Bruins sit back and wait for them to make mistakes, like the Bruins structure is so willing to capitalize on, they will continue to be unsuccessful. The Bruins are excellent at that, and applying a physical forecheck, with just enough scoring touch. The Leafs players need to step up, whether that is Matthew Knies or Max Domi, someone other than the core four needs to be a superhero offensively. Is it too much to ask of the team? Of course not, but someone needs to do it. Someone needs to step up.
Main photo: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
