Auston Matthews granted rest day from Leafs’ practice

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews missed Monday’s practice due to rest, the team confirmed.

Matthews has recorded a goal and five points in four playoff games against the Ottawa Senators, after notching 33 goals and 78 points in 67 regular season contests.

The 27-year-old fought through a lingering upper-body injury throughout the season, missing 15 games in two separate stints. Matthews didn’t appear to be affected by the injury upon returning to the lineup on January 4.

Toronto is looking to close the series out against Ottawa on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena. Matthews has centred Toronto’s top line, with Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner on his wings, and they’ve consistently won their minutes throughout the series. Matthews, Knies and Marner have combined for four goals at 5-on-5 with zero against, along with a 55 percent share of the expected goals throughout the series. All three players have been central to a scorching power play, that may be the most critical reason why the Leafs hold a commanding 3-1 lead over the Senators.

“Our guys have responded well,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Sunday. “The leadership has really grown here. And that’s the key, the leadership and our leaders leading the way. I expect the same in Game 5. We played a real good hockey game, we didn’t come out on top. Our guys will be ready to go, it will be highly competitive for Game 5. The leadership has been very good and that’s the key. I don’t expect anything different.”

David Kampf took Matthews’ place in the lineup, per lines posted by David Alter of The Hockey News.

Joseph Woll also did not participate in Monday’s practice. Anthony Stolarz has started all four playoff games for the Leafs, with a .902 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average. Stolarz is widely expected to start Game 5 as he’s clearly outplayed his Senators counterpart, Linus Ullmark. Artur Akhtyamov took part as the Leafs’ second goalie in practice.