Leafs F Auston Matthews skips practice for 'maintenance'

Field Level Media|published: Fri 26th April, 12:58 2024

Apr 22, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save on shot by Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. credits: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Auston Matthews, the NHL's leading goal scorer in the regular season, won't practice Friday for what the Toronto Maple Leafs called a "maintenance" day off.

Also not practicing ahead of Game 4 of the Leafs' first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins is defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, who announced Thursday that his wife, Diana, gave birth to the couple's third child, a girl.

The Bruins lead the Maple Leafs 2-1 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series. Game 4 is set for Saturday in Toronto.

Matthews, 26, recorded career bests in goals (69) and points (107) in the 2023-24 season. He has one goal and two assists in the series.

Lyubushkin, 30, has one assist in the series. Acquired from Anaheim at the trade deadline, he had four assists in 19 games for the Maple Leafs this season.

—Field Level Media