Tribute Auston Matthews Discussion Thread II: Record Breaking Edition

[CapspaceKiller]

He's been good during the series and a lot of his criticism is unwarranted, but w/e...those fans will never be pleased

 

[Dekes For Days]

What a dominating performance by Matthews to claw that game back.

Some pretty silly comments over the last page. He's been excellent all series. Not only excellent production, but does so much that gets so unappreciated by the casual fan.

 

[ULF_55]

Matthews from marner and Nylander
Matthews for Nylander and Giordano

Wondered why Nylander took that one face-off in the O-Zone.
Wrist acting up?

 

[mapleleafs34]

PAPI HAS FU*KIN ARRIVED!!!!!!

 

[Gary Nylund]

When Fred Gauthier got going he was pretty fast too. Hockey is about acceleration. Nylander and McDavid accelerate fast, while Marner has slow acceleration. Nylander is one of the best skaters in the game, Marner is not. Marner has poor skating technique.

 

[Havoc]

How dare this thread be this low after the 2 goals for the comeback.

Write some randomness in here to help this guy out

 

[crump]

Matthews was a shark last night. Absolutely exploited the Tampa Bay defensemen last period. Guess they didn’t hold his stick. Epic game, probably his signature game seeing what an important comeback and win it was.

 

[dangomon]

Matthews from marner and Nylander
Matthews for Nylander and Giordano

View attachment 696329

Wondered why Nylander took that one face-off in the O-Zone.
Wrist acting up?

Since their rookie season when Matthews and Nylander play together they split Ozone faceoffs based on who's on their strong side. I assume it was that simple.

 

[ULF_55]

Since their rookie season when Matthews and Nylander play together they split Ozone faceoffs based on who's on their strong side. I assume it was that simple.

I thought Jarkrok also took some while on with Matthews, and Matthews did not have a good night at the dot.

 

[robertmac43]

He took over when he needed to last night. Been waiting on that performance for a long time now!

 

[Jojalu]

Auston Matthews doesn't seem to be rewarding this fanbase or franchise with any kind of playoff breakout. Just the same inconsistent regular season play. On one shift, off for three more. Sometimes physical and fighting in traffic but usually not. Getting outscored and outplayed by Anthony Cirelli halfway through an importantseries. Getting lapped by other superstars in the game. Playing more and more timid in the big moments. Headed in the wrong direction.

Matthews had been on the ice for 2 seconds the only goal Tampa has scored the entire series he has been on the ice.

What else should he be doing?

Also 16 points in his last 11 playoff games. Better than his regular season standards.

Guy blocks shots like crazy, hits everyone.

I don't get it

 

[dangomon]

I thought Jarkrok also took some while on with Matthews, and Matthews did not have a good night at the dot.

Wouldn't be surprised if that's true for Jarnkrok, also with Jarny being 3/4 last night is a good reason why he may. 5 wins out of 12 total for Auston is definitely subpar but nothing too too concerning.

The amount of guys who 'can' play centre and are viable face-off options on this team is an underrated part of our depth: Auston, JT, ROR, Willy, Jarnkrok, Kampf, Acciari.

 

[Stephen]

Matthews had been on the ice for 2 seconds the only goal Tampa has scored the entire series he has been on the ice.

What else should he be doing?

Also 16 points in his last 11 playoff games. Better than his regular season standards.

Guy blocks shots like crazy, hits everyone.

I don't get it

Third period comeback is kind of the level we need from him. And we got it for one big night. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Jojalu]

What a dominating performance by Matthews to claw that game back.

Some pretty silly comments over the last page. He's been excellent all series. Not only excellent production, but does so much that gets so unappreciated by the casual fan.

I get the frustration Leaf fans feel for the lack of success as a team, but I don't understand some takes.

Our 3 amigos are all well ove a PPG over the past two years.

Marner 18 points 11 games
Matthews 16 points
Nylander 14 points.

All higher than regular season production.

Matthews and Marner allow nothing against.

Matthews hits, blocks and does something all the time to make a difference.

Besides Drai this playoffs, who really has made a bigger impact than the 3 Leafs? Arguably their teammates ROR and Rielly.

Hall has been pretty fantastic for Bos

 

[ULF_55]

Matthews had been on the ice for 2 seconds the only goal Tampa has scored the entire series he has been on the ice.

What else should he be doing?

Also 16 points in his last 11 playoff games. Better than his regular season standards.

Guy blocks shots like crazy, hits everyone.

I don't get it

Wins are a must.

Matthews, marner, Tavares are all under scrutiny ... comes with the salary bracket.

 

[Pi]

I think people think he isn't dominating because he can't snipe the puck like he usually does because of the lack of time and space in the playoffs but they don't give him credit for the deflection goals that he scores that realistically only does.

What other superstar do you see regular go to the front of the ice and get deflections on net as regularly as Matthews? Who puts their body on the line every single shit to block shots? Have you seen some of the other superstars? They are out of their zone as soon as they think a 50/50 puck is going to be won by their team. They're cheating for offense. Matthews does not do that. He's usually the last forward to exit his zone after he's made sure there is no threat.

I think the best case scenario would be to separate Matthews and Marner away from home. Those guys are both capable of being the #1 on their own line.

 

[Jojalu]

---

Wins are a must.

Matthews, marner, Tavares are all under scrutiny ... comes with the salary bracket.

Which is fair. Fact still remains that they are doing their job to help the team win. I get that they will be held accountable for team failures as they are the leaders but Matthews can't control if a goalie can't make a crucial save, or if Kerfoot high sticks someone.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Wins are a must.
Matthews, marner, Tavares are all under scrutiny ... comes with the salary bracket.

Wins are a team stat.
Evaluate individuals by what they're doing, not the team.
Also, we're getting the wins.

 

[ULF_55]

Wins are a team stat.
Evaluate individuals by what they're doing, not the team.
Also, we're getting the wins.

On a micro level I appreciate what Matthews is doing.

 

[hockeeyyy]

Auston Matthews doesn't seem to be rewarding this fanbase or franchise with any kind of playoff breakout. Just the same inconsistent regular season play. On one shift, off for three more. Sometimes physical and fighting in traffic but usually not. Getting outscored and outplayed by Anthony Cirelli halfway through an importantseries. Getting lapped by other superstars in the game. Playing more and more timid in the big moments. Headed in the wrong direction.

lmao

 

[saffronleaf]

Matthews from marner and Nylander
Matthews for Nylander and Giordano

View attachment 696329

Wondered why Nylander took that one face-off in the O-Zone.
Wrist acting up?

maybe just strong side thing

 

[Stephen]

I think people think he isn't dominating because he can't snipe the puck like he usually does because of the lack of time and space in the playoffs but they don't give him credit for the deflection goals that he scores that realistically only does.

What other superstar do you see regular go to the front of the ice and get deflections on net as regularly as Matthews? Who puts their body on the line every single shit to block shots? Have you seen some of the other superstars? They are out of their zone as soon as they think a 50/50 puck is going to be won by their team. They're cheating for offense. Matthews does not do that. He's usually the last forward to exit his zone after he's made sure there is no threat.

I think the best case scenario would be to separate Matthews and Marner away from home. Those guys are both capable of being the #1 on their own line.

For myself, I'm watching for Matthews to take the Draisaitl and Mackinnon steps which is a consistent appetite to live between the dots, take the puck to the danger areas and get the elbows up, out and play with the urgent pace. The third period of Game 4, he took control and willed the Leafs to mount a comeback. I'm glad he did it and I hope he builds on it. So happy to be wrong and be treated to that comeback. But that's not exactly where his game has been at for most of the series before this point.

 

[Pi]

For myself, I'm watching for Matthews to take the Draisaitl and Mackinnon steps which is a consistent appetite to live between the dots, take the puck to the danger areas and get the elbows up, out and play with the urgent pace. The third period of Game 4, he took control and willed the Leafs to mount a comeback. I'm glad he did it and I hope he builds on it. So happy to be wrong and be treated to that comeback. But that's not exactly where his game has been at for most of the series before this point.

Auston Matthews centered line is 7th by 5v5 xGF% in the playoffs. MacKinnon is 13th and Draisaitl is 21st with a minimum of 10 mins played.

Move that to 30+ mins played at minimum and he’s #1: NHL Lines Advanced Stats

Matthews is doing this against Tampa. MacKinnon against an expansion team and Draisaitl against an LA team that can’t generate much at all on ES.

 

[Stephen]

Auston Matthews centered line is 7th by 5v5 xGF% in the playoffs. MacKinnon is 13th and Draisaitl is 21st with a minimum of 10 mins played.

Move that to 30+ mins played at minimum and he’s #1: NHL Lines Advanced Stats

Matthews is doing this against Tampa. MacKinnon against an expansion team and Draisaitl against an LA team that can’t generate much at all on ES.

When you have an output like last night's 3rd period that changes the momentum of a game and the outlook on a series, and Matthews is elevating like that, that's Christmas Day. Checked off all the boxes.

5v5 xGF% is somewhat of a consolation stat. Like when the player didn't the real hat trick that led to the win but are looking for positive indicators.

Not a good idea to ever diminish the playoff level Mackinnon and Draisaitl play at. One is the defending cup champion and the other has the highest PPG in playoff history or something ridiculous like that. That's the level I want to see Matthews get to.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Auston Matthews centered line is 7th by 5v5 xGF% in the playoffs. MacKinnon is 13th and Draisaitl is 21st with a minimum of 10 mins played.
Move that to 30+ mins played at minimum and he’s #1: NHL Lines Advanced Stats
Matthews is doing this against Tampa. MacKinnon against an expansion team and Draisaitl against an LA team that can’t generate much at all on ES.

No point. Some people see highlight packages of flashy plays from the wide open ice of the west, from players that don't bother playing defense, and proclaim them to be gods that Matthews needs to aspire to, while ignoring that Matthews is a straight up better player who can match that production through more difficult situations and injuries, and bring so much more on top.

On-ice xGA isn't a perfect representation of the individual, but I think the discrepancy in that between these players these playoffs speaks volumes.

On-ice 5v5 xGA/60
Matthews: 1.58
Draisaitl: 3.17
Mackinnon: 3.31

Last year, both Matthews and Mackinnon faced Tampa. Matthews produced better against them, despite Tampa not even having Point for most of that series against Mackinnon. But all hail Mackinnnon for being PPG these playoffs against... *checks notes* Yannni Gourde.

Imagine thinking Matthews doesn't "take the puck to the danger areas". Like what are some people watching?

It's crazy how much our own players are underappreciated by our own fans.