Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews beats Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark for a goal during the third period of Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, Monday, April 22, 2024, in Boston. PHOTO BY CHARLES KRUPA /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The first question to Auston Matthews on Maple Leafs’ locker cleanout day was what the heck happened to him between Games 4 and 7?
I got really, really sick after Game 2,” Toronto’s leading scorer said Monday at the Ford Centre. “Playing Game 3, it was tough going through that and I was still trying to recover going into Game 4.
Then I took a weird hit and I couldn’t go any longer. That’s as detailed as I’m going to get into it,” he said.
Toronto was eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Bruins, with Matthews and fellow star William Nylander both missing significant portions of the series, along with goalie Joseph Woll in the finale.
“It was really frustrating, it sucks and it was killing me to watch,” Matthews said of being forced out. “But I’m proud of the guys, how they fought and climbed their way back in the series. I was fortunate to get to play in Game 7, just tried to go out there and give it my all. Obviously, it was very disappointing.”
Asked if it were a flu-like virus that felled him, he said: “Something like that.”
Matthews did get a Game 7 assist after a pivotal three-point night in Game 2.
Matthews will become the NHL’s highest-paid player starting in 2024-25 when his $53 million U.S. contract extension kicks in. Having already won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s top scorer, Matthews was also a first-time finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as best defensive forward and is up for the Lady Byng Trophy too (for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct).
Matthews previously won the Hart and Ted Lindsay (MVP and Most Outstanding Player) trophies in 2022, the Calder as rookie of the year in 2017 and has two other Rocket Richard honours.
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