Are the Leafs a better TEAM without Matthews?

[Darcy Tucker]

 

[therealkoho]

Just a small anecdote.

In the recent Buffalo game the Sabres had just pulled their netminder. The Matthews Knies Marner line was out and had created a turnover in their defensive zone at the left halfwall. Marner was able to shovel the puck up to Matthews who was fighting off a check. It allowed Marner to get ahead of the puck and break the blueline out into open ice. Matthews got across the blueline and elected to shoot on the open net even though he had Sabres ahead of him cutting off shooting angles and a Sabre still harrasing him from behind. Marner who was closing on the redline had about 50 Sq ft of open ice around him and in a much better position to shoot. Instead the puck missed the open net by 10ft and created an icing.

Sometimes I think we can be a better team with Matthews, and then I see small things like this, and think sometimes not!

 

[HellasLEAF]

5v5 Matthews leads the league in most scoring chance and shooting categories xg/60, icf/60, ihdc/60, iFF/60, he is also 2nd in shots blocked /60 for centers, and among the top in faceoff win % and came back from IR.

We are very lucky to have him and stats indicate he's just been unlucky...if he keeps it, goals will start to come.

I've been saying this. A lot of fans only care if he scored 2-3 goals in the game. His on ice duties as centre not that relevant, pretty much never acknowledged.

 

[darrylsittler27]

Ironic. He is injured again. Like it or not a pattern of having to play without him is emerging.