The Toronto Maple Leafs faced another difficult chapter in their storied rivalry with the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, suffering both a 4-1 defeat and significant injury concerns to two key players.
Key Players Forced Early Exit
Captain Auston Matthews and goaltender Anthony Stolarz each departed the game against the Bruins at TD Garden with separate injuries, dealing a substantial blow to the team's lineup. The Leafs announced after the second period that Matthews had sustained a lower-body injury while Stolarz was dealing with an upper-body issue.
The injury situation unfolded dramatically throughout the contest. Stolarz struggled during the first period, allowing three goals on just 10 shots before being replaced at the start of the second period. The goaltender did not return to the Leafs bench for the remainder of the game.
Matthews' Collision with Zadorov
Matthews left the game during the second period following multiple collisions with Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov. The first incident appeared to be a potential penalty when Zadorov caught Matthews from behind near the side boards, but officials made no call on the play.
This marks another concerning chapter in Matthews' injury history. The star forward missed 15 games with an upper-body injury during the 2024-25 season, though he had declared himself fully healthy and ready for action when training camp began in September.
Goaltending Situation in Flux
Dennis Hildeby replaced Stolarz in net, marking the second consecutive game where he had to relieve the struggling goaltender. The Bruins immediately tested the new netminder, with David Pastrnak scoring a breakaway goal within the first minute of the second period.
The timing compounds the Leafs' goaltending challenges, as Joseph Woll continues his conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League. Woll has yet to appear for the Leafs this season after taking a leave for personal reasons and is expected to play the full game for the Marlies in Grand Rapids on Wednesday night.
The injury to Zadorov's latest victim comes just days after the Bruins defenceman delivered a crushing hit on Leafs centre Scott Laughton during Saturday's 5-3 Boston victory in Toronto, resulting in an upper-body injury for Laughton.
As the Maple Leafs assess the damage from another difficult outing in Boston, the team faces significant questions about how to manage their lineup amid these latest injury concerns to crucial players.
