The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to the ice on Monday to prepare for Game 5, but their star forward Auston Matthews was absent from practice.
The team stated that Matthews, the team`s captain, was simply taking a scheduled rest day.
The 27-year-old played a significant 26:23 minutes in the Game 4 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, second only to Mitch Marner among Leafs forwards.
In that game, Matthews recorded four shots on goal, two blocked shots, and won 50 per cent of his faceoffs. Through four playoff games, he has one goal and a total of five points.
With Matthews off the top line during practice, David Kampf filled in as a temporary placeholder. Nick Robertson skated as an extra forward. These practice arrangements suggest that the Maple Leafs are not planning any lineup changes for Game 5.
Forward John Tavares did participate in practice. He had briefly left the ice during overtime in Game 4 after being hit by Senators defenseman Artem Zub but was able to return and finish the game.
Head coach Craig Berube expressed no concern regarding Tavares` availability moving forward.
“I don’t think there is any concern. He had to go off,” Berube said after the game. “At the time, we had a power play, and he was not out there. But it is what it is.”
Tavares later told reporters that he was required to leave by a concussion spotter but subsequently passed the necessary clearance tests.
Goaltender Joseph Woll was also not present at Monday`s practice.
The Maple Leafs will host the Senators for Game 5 on Tuesday.