The Toronto Maple Leafs forced a Game 7 against the Boston Bruins with a 2-1 win, despite the potential absence of star center Matthews, with significant contributions from William Nylander and Matthew Knies.
The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a clutch 2-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Thursday. This victory pushed them to a Game 7, keeping their playoff dreams alive. But, there’s a catch. Their star center might not hit the ice come Saturday.
According to The Athletic, it’s looking grim for Matthews to play in Game 7. Yet, the team hasn’t lost hope. They’re adopting a “day-by-day” stance, not ruling him out just yet.
Matthews has been on the sidelines for the last two games, a tough break after leaving Game 4 early. Despite battling an illness that hit him back in Game 3, he tried to push through. Unfortunately, Game 4 was a no-go.
In the midst of this, Matthews hasn’t vanished. He’s been spotted on the ice, participating in drills before Game 5. Clearly, the guy’s giving it his all to make a comeback.
Even without their star, the Maple Leafs have shown resilience. They’ve managed to tie the series 3-3, setting the stage for a nail-biting Game 7. And in Game 6, William Nylander stepped up big time.
Nylander was a force to be reckoned with, netting two goals. One of these was a slick shot through the goalie’s five-hole during a breakaway. Impressively, these were his first points in the series, especially notable since he missed the first three games due to an injury.
Matthew Knies also didn’t let Matthews’ absence slow the team down. He played a key role in Game 6, assisting on Nylander’s breakaway goal. Not to mention, he scored the overtime winner in Game 5. Clearly, the Maple Leafs aren’t short on talent stepping up when it counts.
