The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to the ice on Monday to prepare for Game 5, but a key player was missing from the session.
Star forward Auston Matthews did not participate in the team`s practice session, with the club indicating the captain was given a rest day.
The 27-year-old logged significant ice time in the Leafs` overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 4, playing 26:23, second only to Mitch Marner`s 28:26 among forwards.
During the game, Matthews recorded four shots and two blocked shots, and won half of his faceoffs. Across the first four games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he has accumulated one goal and five points.
In Matthews` absence from practice, David Kampf temporarily filled his spot on the top line. Nick Robertson skated as an extra forward, signalling that the team likely plans no changes to their lineup for Game 5.
However, John Tavares was present at practice. Tavares had left briefly during overtime in Game 4 after being hit by Senators defenceman Artem Zub but returned to finish the contest. Coach Craig Berube expressed no concern regarding Tavares` availability for upcoming games.
Berube commented after the game, “I don’t think there is any concern. He had to go off. At the time, we had a power play, and he was not out there. But it is what it is.”
Tavares later informed reporters that a concussion spotter mandated his brief departure, but he passed the required tests to rejoin the game.
Goaltender Joseph Woll was also absent from the practice session.
Toronto is scheduled to host Ottawa for Game 5 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
