The Maple Leafs held an optional skate at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. The Senators held a media availability at their hotel.

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After missing Monday's practice, Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the ice for the team's optional skate ahead of Game 5.

How's he feeling?

"Good," he said with a grin. "Thanks."

The team described Matthews' absence on Monday as a rest day. How's he looking?

"Rested," said Leafs coach Craig Berube to laughs.

Matthews showed no signs of duress during a 30-minute session with Max Domi and player development staffer Patrick O'Sullivan.

"I just listen to the body, and sometimes you just feel like you need a little bit of a rest or time off the ice," the 27-year-old said. "I think it’s not a big deal."

Matthews missed 15 games in the regular season and one other game at the 4 Nations Face-Off due to an upper-body injury. But the Leafs captain downplayed concern that he's battling an injury once again.

"Everybody’s grinding right now," he said. "It’s that point in the season where it's hard, physical hockey and you're always going to go through different things, so it’s nothing that’s abnormal. Everybody’s grinding and playing hard right now, so it’s not a big deal."

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The score favours the Leafs 10-1 with Matthews on the ice during the series.

"It’s not easy," said Senators coach Travis Green of the matchup. "One of the best players in the world and you’re not going to keep guys like that off the scoresheet. They’re going to get goals. They’re going to get points. I’d say we’ve done an okay job and he’s still a real effective player in the series."

Matthews has hit the scoresheet in every game so far with one goal and five assists in the series. Toronto's top line........

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