Toronto Maple Leafs Superstar Player Not at Practice Ahead of Game Five vs Senators

After a tough overtime loss in Game 4 to the Ottawa Senators, which ruined a Leafs opportunity to earn a sweep on the road, the series comes back to Toronto on Tuesday for another elimination game.

Adding further to the worry, Auston Matthews skipped Monday's practice after playing 26:23 minutes in Game 4.

While the team is insisting that his absence is strictly for rest, it hasn't quieted fans' fears, especially given that Matthews has struggled with injuries all season long.

Earlier this year, Matthews battled an upper-body injury severe enough to warrant a trip to Germany to receive specialized treatment.

Recent details from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed more about the injury, confirming the degree of the issue that necessitated the trip.

Playing through the issue for most of the season and into the playoffs, Matthews has still been effective, scoring one goal and five points in four playoff games and also impressing on defense.

For now, the Leafs don't expect Matthews' missed practice to impact his availability for Game 5. But if he keeps requiring extra rest days, it's not going to calm the growing nervousness among fans as the playoff battle rages on.