Ahead of Game 3, Matthews opted not to take part in the optional skate which raised eyebrows with the media and Leaf fans. It was then confirmed that he was dealing with an illness, but played through it in Game 3 and most of Game 4 until he took a hit that cause a reported head injury.
After missing Games 5 and 6, Matthews returned for Game 7, and following the loss, was asked about his mystery illness and injury. Matthews did not go into detail about anything saying that it was something he would explain later. At his media availability on Monday, all Matthews confirmed that it was something similar to food poisoning.
Today, Treliving provided much more clarity around his injury and illness. Treliving said that Matthews got really sick after Game 2 and that the virus lingered. He was pulled from Game 4 after taking a hit and that they were not sure if the virus he was dealing with causes the head issues to be more severe or if the side effects were related to a concussion. Treliving confirmed that Matthews was cleared ahead of Game 7 from the head injury.
Aside from Matthews' injury update, Treliving also touched on a handful of other players that dealt with injuries throughout the end of the season and first round, with a few of them. More on that later.
POLL | ||
10 MAI | 623 ANSWERS Brad Treliving provides full details on Auston Matthews' injury Would the Leafs have won the series if Matthews was healthy? | ||
Yes | 302 | 48.5 % |
No, it would've ended the same way | 321 | 51.5 % |
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