Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews ruled out for Game 6

The big-time goal scorer on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is set to miss another crucial game.

After morning skate on Thursday, head coach Sheldon Keefe revealed that forward Auston Matthews will not play in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins.

Matthews had been reportedly battling an illness for the past week, and was pulled from Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinal last Saturday. He was then ruled out for Game 5 this past Tuesday, in which the Maple Leafs managed to stave off elimination with a big 2-1 overtime win in Boston.

The Bruins lead the series 3-2, heading back to Toronto.

It has not been mentioned what exactly has been ailing the 69-goal scorer, but it is said that the illness will be revealed once the season is over. Keefe did assure that Matthews is dealing with something uncommon.

“For whatever reason, it’s not one of those run-of-the-mill everyday types of illnesses that sort of come and go,” Keefe said after Game 4. “This one has lingered. The effects have lingered and gotten worse when he gets on the ice and asserts himself.

Matthews has been skating over the last few days, mostly by himself, after missing practices in the leadup to Game 3. He has been working with skills coaches prior to Toronto’s full-team practice.

In the first four games of the series, Matthews scored a goal and two assists.

The former first-overall pick missed just one game during the regular season, also due to an illness in mid-December. Matthews posted a career-high 107 points, eclipsing his 60-goal, 106-point performance during the 2021-22 season.

In 562 career NHL games, Matthews has scored 368 goals and 281 assists, registering 47 points in 54 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.