Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews said John Tavares sent teammates a group text Thursday night to say his condition was improving after being stretchered off the ice during the team's first-round playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens.
"He texted us last night and said he was feeling better," Matthews told reporters Friday. "... There are some things bigger than hockey."
Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly added: "We're playing for him."
Tavares was falling to the ice after a hit from Habs blueliner Ben Chiarot when his head struck the knee of Montreal winger Corey Perry.