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National Post

Auston Matthews secretive about injuries, while other Maple Leafs open up

With their season done, the Maple Leafs pulled back to the hospital room curtain on several injuries. Article content Article content While captain Auston Matthews steadfastly refused to discuss his lingering upper-body issue — which would've stop ongoing speculation — he did share some details of what derailed his shot at a third Rocket Richard Trophy. Article content He dropped from 69 goals in 81 games to 33 in 67 this past campaign, with just three in 13 post-season appearances. Article content Article content 'It was a very tough season, physically,' the Matthews said Tuesday at the Ford Performance Centre. 'I got injured in training camp, wasn't feeling great for the first month or so and went to (a clinic in) Germany to do all those things to feel better, get to a place where I felt I could manage it better. Article content 'There were good stretches and stretches where I didn't feel very good. It impacted a lot of things,' he said when asked about his shooting. 'I'm confident with some time off, going through my own process and treatment that I'll be back 100% next season.' Article content Article content In other words, no surgery is required. Article content Matthews indicated he doesn't want to give opponents information they could potentially use against him, although the next Leafs game of consequence is five months away. Article content Defenceman Chris Tanev, hit more than any Leaf in playoffs and their lead shot-blocker all season, volunteered he had come through a sterno-clavicular (collarbone) injury in March, but was none the worse for wear when the Senators and Panthers hunted him. Article content Article content Also on Tuesday, goaltender Anthony Stolarz finally was available to discuss what happened in Game 1 against the Panthers that concussed him. Article content The 6-foot-6 Stolarz said it was not caused by Sam Reinhart's hard shot that dislodged his mask, but was indeed former teammate Sam Bennett's elbow to the head that wasn't detected by the officials. Article content 'It was unfortunate, he just caught me in a bad spot,' Stolarz said. 'No malicious intent on Benny's part. Not just him but that entire team plays hard. He obviously felt pretty bad. It's a pretty fast game and s*** is going to happen. About 45 minutes later, I felt the symptoms.' Article content After trying to continue playing, he was ill at the Leafs bench and stretchered to hospital.