How series against Bruins could be Auston Matthews’ moment

BOSTON — Auston Matthews has been characterised as only a regular-season star — one criticized for flaming out proper when the Toronto Maple Leafs hit the playoffs.

Consider Matthews to have issued a rebuttal.

The scene: Late in Game 2 of Toronto’s first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Monday. The Leafs had been making an attempt to keep away from falling right into a 2-0 series deficit, with the scoreboard knotted at 2-2 late within the third interval. The rowdy hometown crowd at TD Garden had been taunting the guests with electrified chants of “U-S-A … U-S-A” when Matthews — arguably the best American-born hockey participant within the league at this time who occurs to play for an iconic Canadian franchise — noticed his opening.

Like a operating again sprinting for daylight within the open area, Matthews charged into the Bruins’ zone, gloved down a cross from linemate Max Domi, juked defenseman Charlie McAvoy and bamboozled Boston goaltender Linus Ullmark with a superbly positioned top-shelf strike.

In a blink, Matthews’ eventual game-winner took Toronto from the emotional brink to a gentle touchdown en path to a 3-2 victory. The Leafs left Boston with home-ice benefit in a best-of-five series against the opponent with whom they hadn’t even held a lead of their earlier 5 conferences.

Matthews was the other of invisible. He was unimaginable to disregard. Now, greater than ever, is Matthews’ time to shine.

“You look at his goal [on Monday] — that was a nothing play,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand mentioned. “And he got a game-winning goal off of it. Even when you think you’re tight on him, you’re not tight enough. But that’s the thing about the best players; they find a way. And that’s what he did.”

IT’S BEEN A JOURNEY for Matthews discovering his approach to blossom within the postseason. Prior to Monday, he’d recorded 22 targets and 44 factors in 51 playoff tilts, however hadn’t registered a objective in his earlier six postseason appearances. And that’s from a participant who’s received three Rocket Richard Trophies because the league’s high goal-scorer, together with a career-best 69-goal marketing campaign in 2023-24.

Make no mistake — the numbers aren’t dangerous. But for no matter cause, Matthews hasn’t translated constantly to being the identical difference-making menace within the playoffs that he is been within the common season.

Perhaps that ends now, with Matthews apparently letting go of the strain and permitting his talent to take over.

“It’s just happening so fast, you don’t really have time to think,” Matthews mentioned of teeing up his game-winner. “It’s honestly kind of instincts, and just trying to make the right play.”

It wasn’t simply that momentum separating Matthews from the pack. He assisted on each Leaf targets earlier within the evening (courtesy of Domi and John Tavares on the facility play), had a game-high eight pictures on objective, six hits, and at one level made a possible game-saving transfer within the crease behind goaltender Ilya Samsonov to maintain a puck out of the Leafs’ cage.

Matthews will not be above the fray. He’ll do the so-called soiled work. And that dedication at each ends of the spectrum — offensively and defensively — is what emerged most in Game 2, and caught Boston’s full consideration.

“What I’ve been impressed with him about is how tenacious he’s been on pucks, how tenacious he’s been on the forecheck,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery mentioned. “He’s been relentless with his work ethic. We can’t let him get in behind us. That’s the most dangerous man on the ice; you have to be tighter [with him]. But he’s the most dangerous man on the ice because he’s earned it.”

Matthews has finished it the exhausting method, bearing the brunt of expectations. It’s been the identical narrative since Matthews arrived in Toronto as their No. 1 total choose in 2016; the Leafs will go as far within the playoffs as Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Tavares take them. The Leafs’ hopes reside and die with their “Core Four.”

Matthews shoulders that burden greater than ever. Toronto hasn’t seen Nylander — a 40-goal scorer in his personal proper — on this series but as a result of an undisclosed damage (he stays a risk to return in Game 3). Marner has been dead-quiet, with zero factors and 4 whole pictures on objective. Tavares is doing his half, however the Leafs’ captain is previous his scoring prime.

Matthews, in the meantime, is within the thick of his. He’s the red-hot center of Toronto’s nucleus, the Leafs’ extremely prized, series-defining skater. And that is for higher or for worse.

“He’s world-class in everything he does,” Tavares mentioned of Matthews. “Having the night like he did [in Game 2] was massive for our group. The goal is one thing; it’s obviously special. Not many guys in the world [have] those instincts and the hands and finishing ability. But the competitive aspect, winning battles, fighting for space, using his body — things he does so truly well that sets the standard for us. It was a hell of a game by him and just driving our team.”

THE TRICK NOW is Matthews sustaining the momentum he is created and turning it into one thing tangible. The Leafs infamously went twenty years and not using a first-round playoff series win till besting the Tampa Bay Lightning in six video games final 12 months. Matthews had 5 targets within the closing 4 video games to get Toronto over the road — after which managed solely two assists by means of 5 video games in a second-round flop against the Florida Panthers.

It’s not sufficient for Matthews to only gentle the lamp. His influence should be felt in each section of the sport. Monday’s efficiency exemplified who Matthews can be at his strongest. He did not make it look simple, precisely. And the Bruins are a wise, opportunistic crew which have already proven Toronto they’re going to throw each mistake the Leafs make into the again of their internet.

Matthews discovered a approach to break by means of with a goal-scoring end and an exuberant response from a often subdued Matthews. It could be greater than a single win. It could be an indication that the perfect of Playoff Matthews has arrived — and remains to be to return.

“Auston was all over the stat sheet and in so many regards he’s affecting the game positively for us,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “But for me, the way he worked, where he competed, he was hard, physical, winning puck battles all over the ice. Really good … it’s big-time stuff the way those guys connected in the finish.”