Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews was injured on ‘weird hit’ during series loss to Bruins

What a strange and twisted ride it was for Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1 of the 2023-24 Stanley Cup playoffs. We finally got some clarity Monday as to what ailed him physically during the seven-game loss to the Boston Bruins.

Matthews delivered arguably his greatest all-around performance in a Leafs sweater in Toronto’s Game 2 victory, clinching a win with a breakaway goal. Days later, it was revealed he was battling an illness. He was pulled after two periods in Toronto’s Game 4 loss due to a doctor’s decision, and his mysterious malady was one that affected him the more he exerted himself according to Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. Matthews missed Games 5 and 6, and talk of illness shifted as it became clear he was also fighting an injury of some sort.

Matthews returned for Game 7, looking several steps slower than normal and opening the game on the third line, but he did set up William Nylander’s go-ahead goal in the third period before the Leafs blew their lead and fell to the Bruins in overtime.

After the defeat, Nylander, who missed the first few games of the series, shed light on the migraine issue that was holding him out and how it was affecting his vision. Matthews opted not to go into specifics but suggested details of his ailment would be revealed in the coming days.

On Monday, speaking to media during the team’s locker cleanout day, Matthews gave the answer. He was dealing with an illness, a bug he couldn’t even fully describe, that hit him after Game 2. He was forced out of Game 4, he explained Monday, because he “took a weird hit.” He wouldn’t reveal more detail on his injury.

It was a disappointing end to another magical season for Matthews. His 69 goals broke his own franchise single-season record and tied him for the most of any player since 1992-93. Matthews was also named a finalist for the Selke and Lady Byng Trophies over the past week, with a Hart Trophy nod possibly coming too.

Also dealing with the sudden absence of Joseph Woll Saturday after he dominated in net across Games 5 and 6, the Leafs lost their fourth Game 7 to the Bruins since 2013. In the Matthews/Mitch Marner era, they have made the playoffs in all eight seasons but have won a single series and are 0-6 in winner-take-all scenarios.