TORONTO — Empathy is in short supply for a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has crashed out of the first round six consecutive times, but in truth, this year’s team has been the picture of resiliency. Toronto has weathered injury after injury, leading the NHL in man-games lost prior to Friday’s contest against the Ottawa Senators, but this game was slightly different than the 49 prior to the latest Battle of Ontario.
Auston Matthews didn’t take the morning skate and reporters quickly learned why, as the Hart Trophy winner was ruled out for three weeks with a knee sprain.