Sheldon Keefe provides vital updates on Matthews, Nylander

The Toronto Maple Leafs will head into Game 3 against the Boston Bruins tonight with the status of one star known and another unknown, as Auston Matthews will play and William Nylander will be a game-time decision.

The city of Toronto was in a frenzy on Wednesday morning when Auston Matthews did not attend Leafs practice. Thankfully, as Sheldon Keefe pointed out afterwards, the team had labelled this one as an optional skate and that Matthews simply opted for some extra rest.

For Matthews and the Maple Leafs, the first two games have been very taxing and physical, so in that sense, you can understand why Matthews wanted to rest up before Game 3. After a 3-point performance in Game 2, including his brilliant game-winning goal, we can trust that Matthews knows what he's doing.

Sheldon Keefe also provided an update on William Nylander following practice. With his 98-point winger staying out for extra work with the scratches, it originally appeared as though Nylander would miss Game 3, contrary to the reporting of TSN's Chris Johnston, who, just this morning, projected Nylander to play tonight. Thankfully, Keefe provided some clarity.


Keefe told the media in Toronto that the Leafs want to wait and see how Nylander responds to the extra work at practice today before deciding whether or not he'll suit up tonight, making him a game-time decision.