Player Discussion Auston Matthews (Captain Edition)

[Zybalto]

Makar's read on the play and that rim around was excellent. Sent that whole defensive coverage into a mad scramble and opened up the entire slot.

Hockey IQ off the charts from all three there combined with elite execution.

 

[kevsh]

People do realize McDavid shot the puck on net right?

View attachment 980824

The rebound went around out to Makar.

Who shot it around and marner picked it up and history.

It wasn't a face-off set play.

I'm not sure what part of it was set up but Marner went immediately into the corner and Makar didn't even have to look before he threw it around to him.

To me it looked very much like a set play but I agree that it may not have been planned specifically around winning a faceoff.

 

[pdson]

Sadly, now we have to from relying on guys that play with heart and soul to relying on a guy who plays with stick and puck.

Sadly we still have to read more of your bullshit made up nonsense

 

[Stephen]

Hockey IQ off the charts from all three there combined with elite execution.

Yep. The speed of the puck movement was great. When the Leafs struggle on the PP, they really don't move it around like that.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Maybe Matty saw Mitch was getting the puck and eluded McDavid to get himself open. Oops - wrong team?

 

[Roo]

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

If my aunt had cajones she would be my uncle.

There’s no “ifs” in sports. You either get it done or you don’t. McDavid got it done ant the end of the day and Matthews didn’t. Pure and simple.

Yes, this is how the media and fans think, but not the pros - and for good reason. Teams win, or Teams don’t get it done. Not individual players.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Maybe Matty saw Mitch was getting the puck and eluded McDavid to get himself open. Oops - wrong team?

Naw, it's a split second system coverage decision and if Matthews gets that puck, it is going the other way fast.

I can't relate to what Matthews is feeling but I Iost in wrestling in a couple of finals (most I won thankfully), including one grueling televised match I lost by a single point (to my training partner) in front of a loud cheering crowd. I get the feeling of believing fully in an outcome and then the deflation afterwards.

The best outcome for him, the team and his legacy, will be for him to be motivated by this. I can see in his face he is drained, it's too fresh still. Once his energy returns and his spirit is lifted, focus on redemption for the rest of the year. It's a team game and he did way more than his part. If McAvoy and Thachuk hadn;t been injured, if they didn't pull Connor, who knows if the outcome is the same? Billington stole it in OT, that's for sure.

If he raises a Cup it would be huge for him and America, I can't think of any Cup winner captained by an American except maybe Hatcher years ago. Imagine being an American captain of the biggest hockey team in the world and lifting a Cup after 58 years?! That would be HUGE for his confidence and his HOF ballot would already be filled in. Going into the olympics next year, winning a Cup should drive him with a single minded obsession.

I remember staying up to 3 in the morning or whenever it was to watch Canada lose to the Czechs in the '98 Olympics. Gretzky didn't even take a shot in the shootout and they were goalied by Hasek (goalies are sort of important). The video of Gretzky in near tears alone on the bench, never to win an olympic Gold.

Matthews should focus on trying to win a Cup and then try and parlay that into an Olympic Gold medal in a year. We all know if Canada isn't in the Finals that we would all be rooting for Matthews to win it.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Naw, it's a split second system coverage decision and if Matthews gets that puck, it is going the other way fast.

I can't relate to what Matthews is feeling but I Iost in wrestling in a couple of finals (most I won thankfully), including one grueling televised match I lost by a single point (to my training partner) in front of a loud cheering crowd. I get the feeling of believing fully in an outcome and then the deflation afterwards.

The best outcome for him, the team and his legacy, will be for him to be motivated by this. I can see in his face he is drained, it's too fresh still. Once his energy returns and his spirit is lifted, focus on redemption for the rest of the year. It's a team game and he did way more than his part.

If he raises a Cup it would be huge for him and America, I can't think of any Cup winner captained by an American except maybe Hatcher years ago. Imagine being an American captain of the biggest hockey team in the world and lifting a Cup after 58 years?! That would be HUGE for his confidence and his HOF ballot would already be filled in. Going into the olympics next year, winning a Cup should drive him with a single minded obsession.

I remember staying up to 3 in the morning or whenever it was to watch Canada lose to the Czechs in the '98 Olympics. Gretzky didn't even take a shot in the shootout and they were goalied by Hasek (goalies are sort of important). The video of Gretzky in near tears alone on the bench, never to win an olympic Gold.

Matthews should focus on trying to win a Cup and then try and parlay that into an Olympic Gold medal in a year. We all know if Canada isn't in the Finals that we would all be rooting for Matthews to win it.

Did you really think I was serious?

Just having a little fun with how those two look for each other.

 

[Stephen]

Naw, it's a split second system coverage decision and if Matthews gets that puck, it is going the other way fast.

I can't relate to what Matthews is feeling but I Iost in wrestling in a couple of finals (most I won thankfully), including one grueling televised match I lost by a single point (to my training partner) in front of a loud cheering crowd. I get the feeling of believing fully in an outcome and then the deflation afterwards.

The best outcome for him, the team and his legacy, will be for him to be motivated by this. I can see in his face he is drained, it's too fresh still. Once his energy returns and his spirit is lifted, focus on redemption for the rest of the year. It's a team game and he did way more than his part. If McAvoy and Thachuk hadn;t been injured, if they didn't pull Connor, who knows if the outcome is the same? Billington stole it in OT, that's for sure.

If he raises a Cup it would be huge for him and America, I can't think of any Cup winner captained by an American except maybe Hatcher years ago. Imagine being an American captain of the biggest hockey team in the world and lifting a Cup after 58 years?! That would be HUGE for his confidence and his HOF ballot would already be filled in. Going into the olympics next year, winning a Cup should drive him with a single minded obsession.

I remember staying up to 3 in the morning or whenever it was to watch Canada lose to the Czechs in the '98 Olympics. Gretzky didn't even take a shot in the shootout and they were goalied by Hasek (goalies are sort of important). The video of Gretzky in near tears alone on the bench, never to win an olympic Gold.

Matthews should focus on trying to win a Cup and then try and parlay that into an Olympic Gold medal in a year. We all know if Canada isn't in the Finals that we would all be rooting for Matthews to win it.

Yeah, he needs to channel his disappointment and past failures a la Mackinnon when he said "I've been in the league for X years and have won jack shit." Need to take that desperation and hatred for losing to get over the hump in those big moments.

 

[Stephen]

Also ties Darryl Sittler for 2nd all-time in Leafs scoring, but doesn't seem like big news:

Matthews ties Sittler for 2nd on Maple Leafs goal list in win against Hurricanes | NHL.com

Holmberg has 3 points, Steeves scores 1st in NHL for Toronto

www.nhl.com

 

[BraveCanadian]

Yeah, he needs to channel his disappointment and past failures a la Mackinnon when he said "I've been in the league for X years and have won jack shit." Need to take that desperation and hatred for losing to get over the hump in those big moments.

I don’t really know him, obviously, but does Matthew$ strike anyone as the type to turn it up a full notch like that for an extended period of time? When the going gets tough?