Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews absent from practice Monday

The Toronto Maple Leafs worked with new lines in practice Monday as the team prepares to potentially play a must-win Game 5 against the Boston Bruins without star center Auston Matthews.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Matthews will travel with the team to Boston, but added that his status for Tuesday’s game is “still to be determined.” Matthews did not participate in Monday’s skate, two days after he was removed from Toronto’s 3-1 loss in Game 4 on Saturday due to illness.

“Of course, we’re hopeful that he’s available, feels good and gets back to himself,” Keefe said Monday. “But we’ve played well with guys out in the past.”

With Matthews absent, Max Domi moved to center while Mitch Marner skated on the top line along with Tyler Bertuzzi. John Tavares centered the second line with Matthew Knies and William Nylander. Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok were reunited on the third line, while Connor Dewar rejoined the fourth line with David Kampf and Ryan Reaves after being eliminated in Game 4.

As TSN’s Mark Masters points out, when Matthews missed practice last week, Dewar served as a placeholder for him. Instead, the team used potential new lines on Monday.

“It’s not ideal to be without Auston,” Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said. “You are talking about one of the best players in the world. But there is enormous depth, talent and character in this team and it is a great opportunity for all of us to take a step forward, improve our game, which is already necessary and necessary.”

On defense, Timothy Liljegren skated on the third pairing alongside Joel Edmundson as he appears set to possibly replace TJ Brodie. Liljegren suited up in Games 1 and 2 before being replaced by Brodie for the final two games in Toronto.

Domi also took Matthews’ place on the team’s main power play unit on Monday, which went to work before the main session and again after drives to the line.

“It’s not one of those run-of-the-mill illnesses that come and go,” Keefe said Sunday of what Matthews is dealing with. “This has persisted and the effects have persisted and gotten worse when he gets on the ice and asserts himself.

“We just have to manage that and give it the time it needs. We’re hopeful that everything will change.”

Matthews has one goal and three points in the playoffs after scoring 69 goals to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy in the regular season.

Maple Leafs Game 5 starter unclear

Keefe declined to name a starter for the Maple Leafs in Game 5 after replacing Ilya Samsonov with Joseph Woll for the third period of Game 4.

Woll, who didn’t sit out late after Monday’s skate as backups typically do, wasn’t tested too much after coming on Saturday, making two saves in the third period.

Samsonov, 27, allowed three goals and 16 shots in the first two periods and left with the Bruins up 3-0. He has started all four games in the series, allowing seven goals in three games.

Keefe told reporters after the game that the decision to pull Samsonov was to try to turn something around with the team trailing by three goals heading into the fourth quarter.

“Special teams and goaltending are two areas we have to improve on and they are connected in a lot of ways,” Keefe said.

Woll went 12-11-1 in the regular season with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. The 25-year-old netminder went 2-3-0 in his last five regular season games and most recently allowed four goals in a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers in the penultimate game of the season.

Woll appeared in four games for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs last year, going 1-2 with a 2.43 GAA and a .915 save percentage.