Leafs star Auston Matthews’ status uncertain for Game 7

The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t certain whether star forward Auston Matthews will be available for Saturday’s decisive Game 7 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Boston Bruins.

Coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Friday that Matthews skated earlier in the day and that he was exhibiting “some progress” but his status had yet to be determined. Matthews played through an undisclosed illness in Game 3 and attempted to do the same in Game 4 but did not take the ice in the third period of Toronto’s 3-1 loss.

He skated briefly on Tuesday and Thursday mornings but was ruled out for Games 5 and 6, both won by Toronto as they rebounded from a 3-1 series deficit.

“All we’ve done is dig ourself out of a hole that we created for ourself. Now, the real test comes in Game 7 and real opportunity,” Keefe said. William Nylander scored both goals for the Maple Leafs in their 2-1 victory in Game 6 on Thursday. Matthews had a goal and two assists in Toronto’s 3-2 win in Game 2, accounting for all three of his points in the series.

Matthews, 26, led the NHL with a career-high 69 goals and tallied 107 points in the 2023-24 season. The 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner has 649 points (368 goals, 281 assists) in 562 games since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Maple Leafs in 2016.