Sheldon Keefe explains why Auston Matthews left the game last night

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews mysteriously left Saturday night's game against the Boston Bruins during the second intermission after a disastrous second period that saw the team give up two goals and the lead.

After the game, Sheldon Keefe discussed why his superstar centre was unable to return to finish the game, which saw the team lose 3-1.

According to Keefe, Matthews, who has been battling some sort of illness throughout the duration of the playoffs, was unable to return due to said ailment creeping up on him, and he was not well enough to come back to the bench to finish the game.




Whether Matthews was so sick he couldn't return or Keefe was guarding his prized possession, one may never know, and a level of compassion and concern should be given to him if he is actually dealing with something. However, as was seen during the second period, if he felt he had just had enough and didn't want to play, that's a seriously bad look, and something needs to be said or done.

Matthews is far and away the best player the Maple Leafs have today and quite possibly the history of the franchise, and to upset him would be a massive detriment to what the team has been trying to build for the last eight years. Conversely, if he is ill, he needs time to rest to be ready to go for game five Tuesday night in Boston.

If the Maple Leafs have any hope of salvaging the series, they need all hands on deck, physically and mentally. What was seen Saturday night is unacceptable and shouldn't happen, at least in front of prying eyes. Everyone is aware that disagreements happen within teams, but to have them air in the open in front of 18,000 fans and a national audience is absolutely embarrassing and completely unacceptable.