Captain Auston Matthews had a bad season last year and didn’t produce the numbers he usually does. However, the game against the Nashville Predators changed everything. He recorded four points, including two goals and two assists. The positive effect of Matthews was a force to be reckoned with against Nashville as the team played with heart, even when down 2-o in the first period.
They roared back, and Matthews made sure his team was involved in the comeback win. This is the positive effect of elite players, who critically influence their team, and it stands out to the fanbase. Matthews had a rough season last year, and the media was all over him based on what they saw.
Even sitting out the remainder of the season at the three-quarter mark due to injury. This put intense scrutiny on the Toronto Maple Leafs captain. His attitude towards the whole ordeal was taken out of context, and then the trade talks began. After certain misleading information about the forward, MLSE made drastic changes to the organization.
Auston Matthews’ Play Paying Dividends For Toronto
Matthews’ Gameplay Changes How the Leafs Look
The team started fresh, and Matthews got comfortable in his role as captain and power-forward for the Maple Leafs. Leading the team in four points against the Predators. He was a force to be reckoned with, as usual, and even assisted on forward Gavin McKenna’s first goal.
The team is starting to show confidence, and Matthews is a huge part of that conversation. He can lead this group to the playoffs, take the heat for his fellow teammates, and stand up for them during discouraging times off and on the ice. He is a well-balanced captain who knows how to score and get his teammates involved with the play.
His chemistry with forward William Nylander is proving to be a well-matched combination, even with forward Jack Roslvic, who also scored a nifty goal in the contest versus the Predators. The positive effect of elite forwards who know how to get their team involved in plays is a strong attribute of the franchise’s players, coaches, and management.
The Maple Leafs franchise will have to consider keeping Matthews long-term, in case the Leafs make it to the finals. Provided he gets a fair deal. His efforts on the ice alone suggest good things to come, and the mood now is that the team continues to win games in their favor.
The captain’s character on and off the ice shows his commitment to the team and the city of Toronto. Here are a few words from head coach Jim Hiller:
“There hasn’t been a lot of Matthews playing with Nylander over the years at five-on-five, at least as much as we saw tonight. Is that something that’s hard to resist because it’s a match of two extremely talented players?”
Hiller: “For me, the time has to be right. It’s hard sometimes. You don’t want to overweight one line. They’re really strong players, and you like to have a little bit of balance. But there are going to be moments in time. I thought they both were strong tonight at the same time, so I thought they could complement each other well.”
“What did you think of that 3-on-0 in overtime?”
Hiller: “Oh, geez. I don’t know. I think 34 should’ve just taken that one straight down. We’ll call it a one-on-one. That’s what I would’ve liked. But anyway, they made a pretty good save on it. I’ll say that. We did get a good look.”
“You’ve been asked since you were hired about Matthews coming back from surgery and how he was doing physically and mentally. Was tonight the high point of that progression—the Matthews people remember from a couple of years ago?”
Hiller: “It really was for me. I thought he’s been really good the whole camp. You guys have been at practice. He’s working on every puck. But tonight, again, for me, it was just a little bit different. From just a pure hockey perspective, to appreciate his game tonight, it was really a special night for him. Never mind that he scored the overtime winner. I’m not talking about that. Just his game, start to finish.”
Main Image: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
