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Auston Matthews will be a game-time decision against the Capitals due to an illness

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The Washington Capitals might catch a big break in their last matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Toronto’s superstar center, Auston Matthews, is a game-time decision for the Leafs due to illness.

“It’s going to be on how he feels throughout the day,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told NHL.com’s Dave McCarthy.

Matthews, who scored his 59th goal of the season in a loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, did not participate in Toronto’s morning skate. The 26-year-old pivot scored twice and had a five-point night against the Capitals just over a week ago in a 7-3 win at Capital One Arena.

“He’s torn us up pretty good,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said Thursday. “We have to do a way better job of when he’s on the ice of protecting that [high-danger] area and making sure that if a puck does turn over, we know exactly where we’re going to protect and where that puck is coming. He’s as hard as anybody in the league to close on and be able to physically get into one-on-one. It’s not an easy task but you do need to do a job of getting into him early, taking his time and space.”

Matthews has previously missed just one game this season due to an illness. Toronto was not impacted whatsoever for that December 16 night, blowing out the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-0 on home ice.

Max Domi, who recorded four assists in that win over Washington last week, took Matthews’ spot on Toronto’s top line. Domi skated with Tyler Bertuzzi and a still-recovering Mitch Marner. Marner will not play against the Capitals as he’s still working his way back from a high ankle sprain.

Toronto will also be without their number one defenseman Morgan Rielly as he’s day to day with an upper-body injury. Rielly skates over two minutes per game more than any other Maple Leafs skater.

The Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings will all be in action around the same time. Washington grabbing a big road win over Toronto could further improve their playoff position in the Eastern Conference by night’s end.

Update (6:43 pm): Matthews is good to go for Toronto.

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