TORONTO – There is a chance the annual Toronto showdown between Canada’s two most star-studded franchises will take place without either club’s shiniest jewel.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid both missed practice Tuesday and are questionable to play Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena. The cloud of COVID persists as the NHL tries to push through the winter.
Matthews is not officially in COVID-19 protocol but was held off the ice for a second consecutive day for precautionary reasons. The sniper submitted a positive rapid antigen test Monday morning, but his PCR test came back negative.
As the Leafs await results of further testing, the asymptomatic Matthews has not been ruled out of Wednesday’s game at this point.
Toronto assistant coach Dean Chynoweth (also asymptomatic as of Monday) was confirmed positive Tuesday and will not be on the bench as he serves his quarantine.
McDavid’s absence from Oilers practice is reportedly COVID-related and precautionary as well. Coach Dave Tippett will provide an update this afternoon.
Toronto forward Ondrej Kase also missed Tuesday’s practice after tweaking something in the gym prior to taking the ice. He is listed as day-to-day.
If Matthews is unable to play, John Tavares will assume top-line duties between Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting. Alexander Kerfoot will centre the second line, flanked by Ilya Mikheyev and William Nylander.
“With Johnny or Matty there, nothing changes for me and Mitch. We play our game. Both of them like to shoot,” Bunting said.
“[Matthews] is a big part of the team. He’s an exceptional player. But with him out of the lineup, guys have to step up and fill roles.”
Bunting will also receive a promotion to the bumper position of the top power-play unit if Matthews and Kase cannot dress.
“We gotta be dialed in and ready to go,” Tavares said.
