A player recovering from a lacerated spleen probably shouldn't even be playing at all this soon. Either the Golden Knights doctors are miracle workers and some tomfoolery is happening there. I am all for this patch rule where if a player is on LTIR at Game 82 of the season, they should not play in the first round.
Along those lines, if a player is on LTIR for the entirety of the period from the trade deadline, and the end of the season, they should be ineligible for Round 1. I mean, if a player is legit on LTIR towards the end of the season, then the team hasn't had the opportunity to manipulate the cap at the deadline. Like, if Marner's ankle sprain had him out until the end of the season, I don't think that situation should be penalized with Round 1 ineligibility. But if a team can wilfully and intentionally put themselves over the cap at the deadline, and keep a player out for the rest of the season ... said player should be ineligible for Round 1.
And yeah, the Leafs were the better team ... but still only squeaked by. Matthews played probably his best game of the season - most ice time by any Leaf; 1G 2A; 70% on faceoffs, and saved a game-tying goal towards the end of the game.