The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without star forward Auston Matthews for the second consecutive must-win game.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters the 26-year-old would not be available for Game 6. Matthews did not participate in morning skate, but did take to the ice for some work before the team arrived.
Matthews was pulled from Game 4 in the second intermission and did not play Game 5 as he recovers from an undisclosed illness.
"Not one of those run-of-the-mill, everyday type of illnesses that sort of come and go," Keefe told reporters after Game 4. "This one has lingered and the effects have lingered and gotten worse when he's getting on the ice and asserting himself.
"We've just got to manage that and give him the time that he needs. We're hopeful that it'll turn."
"We've been through it before and guys responded really well last game," captain John Tavares said on Thursday of playing without Matthews. "Same type of mentality. We have to play together as a group, everyone stepping up and doing more, not one guy trying to fill his shoes."
The Maple Leafs won without Matthews on Tuesday in overtime in Boston.
In four games against the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round series, Matthews has a goal and two assists, each coming in the Maple Leafs' Game 2 victory in Boston.
Keefe also confirmed that injured forward Bobby McMann is making progress but also will not play Game 6.
The Maple Leafs look to force a Game 7 against their long-time playoff rivals. Watch all the action on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.