Tavares sustained a concussion and knee injury during Game 1 on May 20. The knee injury was projected to sideline Toronto's captain for a minimum of two weeks, and no timetable was given for a return from the concussion.
"Obviously he's progressed and he's getting to the point now where he's on the ice with other players, and the fact that he's had no setbacks here, that's very positive," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Obviously he's dealing with two different things, recovery from the concussion and recovery from his knee injury. Things seem to be progressing very well in regards to the knee and he's had no setbacks or anything like that in regards to the concussion, so things have progressed very well."
Tavares was injured when he fell near the blue line after being checked by Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot and then was hit in the head by the left knee of Montreal forward Corey Perry with 9:31 remaining in the first period. He was taken from the ice on a stretcher and examined by the St. Michael's Hospital neurosurgical team and the Maple Leafs medical director.
After staying overnight, Tavares was released to go home the next day under the supervision of Maple Leafs doctors.
"He's making progress," Keefe said. "Of course we're going to continue to be very cautious and safe about it. His health is of the utmost importance. But as I said, his recovery has been quite remarkable. Even from the next morning of the injury he was pretty much back to himself and he's had no issues since then."
General manager Kyle Dubas said the knee injury is similar to the sprained MCL sustained by Toronto forward Zach Hyman on April 18. Hyman returned from his injury to play Game 1.
Toronto's season ended with the loss Monday.
The Maple Leafs, who had a 3-1 lead against the Canadiens in the best-of-7 series, have not won a playoff series in 17 years since defeating the Ottawa Senators in the 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Since that time, they've qualified for the postseason six times but have lost eight straight games with the chance to win a series.
NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report
