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Auston Matthews x2 Rocket winner appreciation thread

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MSZ said:
Lemieux had 160 pts in 60 games. Gilmour as a finalist alone was a honor but he had no business winning Hart that year.
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I'm aware. It's just the classic season of one guy dragging his team to the playoffs (while playing Selke hockey). The other team featured I believe 7 players near or above Toronto's number 2, something like four 100 plus point players. I think number four was like Todd freaking Gill versus like a HOF 100 pointer. Lol. Playing without him the following year still fared quite well. It's that question of whether you are measuring most valuable to their team or best player.
 
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He’s giving up the puck too easily, like he really doesn’t want it. He needs to get his moxy back, because he’s UNSTOPPABLE. They were noting today how bad his stick handling has been, his usual wizandry not apparent. Come on Papi, this is your moment and I believe Game 5 you show up, Mitch is there, he needs his Batman.
 
People are always gentler on Matthews in terms of showing up in the playoffs. I get it, he's an elite player, scored 60 goals, had 106 points, won the Rocket Richard trophy, may win the Hart trophy. He showed up in game one, continued his regular season efforts and had a great game.

My issues with his play are while he was in Tampa. In game 3 he was noticeable for maybe 2 minutes of the third period. The rest of the game, he just blended in the background and wasn't overly dominant, didn't have that extra step, didn't have that playoff performance you'd expect from a top 5 to 7 player talent in the NHL. Since the Leafs won game 3 due to secondary scoring, much of it went to the wayside, no one cared. I cared, but didn't complain about it.

Game 4 rolls around and does he step up his game? No, he absolutely does not. He had one shot on goal all night... just one. This is a guy that takes pride in his craft, works hard off the ice to stay in shape, practices his shot, eats right, says the right things and shows up all season and performs like a world beater. When the Leafs had a chance to take a stranglehold on Tampa and go back to Toronto up 3 games to 1, what does Matthews do? Absolutely nothing. He dialed it in, completely. Sure, the rest of the team was equal to the task as far as being utter shit, but Matthews is better than the rest of the team, light years, except Marner.

How can he put together a back to back dismal performances in the most important games arguably of his career to date? Sure, Tampa is good, their line is shutting him down. You can use that argument if you want. However, Matthews effort is not there, he's not even trying and it shows. I went back and watched both games 3 and 4 and watched every single play he had on the ice. He was just horrific. Think I'm just spouting hyperbole? Go back and watch games 3 and 4 if you have the ability to do so, let me know where you think I'm wrong. One shot on goal in game 4, yes, 8 penalties against, but it's no excuse for him to be invisible.

All this proves to me is that the pressure of playing in Toronto is too much for most of these players. They're playing scared, they don't want to be criticized. He's not playing like we saw all regular season. If the effort was there and domination without scoring goals, I'd be okay with it. That's not happening here.

If Matthews from games 3 and 4 show up in game 5, same for Marner, then this series is over. You can't expect Kampf, Engvall, Mikheyev, Blackwell, Rielly or other odd parts to fill the offensive void because your top four can't figure it out, then you've already lost.

Campbell has to be better too, .889% 3.59 GAA in 4 games? Yeah, not gonna win many series with numbers like that. Most of that was from game 4, he was hung out to dry, but goals 2 and 4 last night were stinkers and his fault. He's gotta be better.

Instead of me ranting on Tavares, Nylander and Holl (like I always do), I figured I'd point the finger at a guy that generally receives little flack from fans, rightfully so, he's usually dominant. Not since games 1 and parts of 2, he hasn't been.

Anyway, I'm rambling because I'm pissed off, that doesn't mean he won't show up tomorrow, but he HAS to or it's over.
 
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Matthews GQ said:
People are always gentler on Matthews in terms of showing up in the playoffs. I get it, he's an elite player, scored 60 goals, had 106 points, won the Rocket Richard trophy, may win the Hart trophy. He showed up in game one, continued his regular season efforts and had a great game.

My issues with his play are while he was in Tampa. In game 3 he was noticeable for maybe 2 minutes of the third period. The rest of the game, he just blended in the background and wasn't overly dominant, didn't have that extra step, didn't have that playoff performance you'd expect from a top 5 to 7 player talent in the NHL. Since the Leafs won game 3 due to secondary scoring, much of it went to the wayside, no one cared. I cared, but didn't complain about it.

Game 4 rolls around and does he step up his game? No, he absolutely does not. He had one shot on goal all night... just one. This is a guy that takes pride in his craft, works hard off the ice to stay in shape, practices his shot, eats right, says the right things and shows up all season and performs like a world beater. When the Leafs had a chance to take a stranglehold on Tampa and go back to Toronto up 3 games to 1, what does Matthews do? Absolutely nothing. He dialed it in, completely. Sure, the rest of the team was equal to the task as far as being utter shit, but Matthews is better than the rest of the team, light years, except Marner.

How can he put together a back to back dismal performances in the most important games arguably of his career to date? Sure, Tampa is good, their line is shutting him down. You can use that argument if you want. However, Matthews effort is not there, he's not even trying and it shows. I went back and watched both games 3 and 4 and watched every single play he had on the ice. He was just horrific. Think I'm just spouting hyperbole? Go back and watch games 3 and 4 if you have the ability to do so, let me know where you think I'm wrong. One shot on goal in game 4, yes, 8 penalties against, but it's no excuse for him to be invisible.

All this proves to me is that the pressure of playing in Toronto is too much for most of these players. They're playing scared, they don't want to be criticized. He's not playing like we saw all regular season. If the effort was there and domination without scoring goals, I'd be okay with it. That's not happening here.

If Matthews from games 3 and 4 show up in game 5, same for Marner, then this series is over. You can't expect Kampf, Engvall, Mikheyev, Blackwell, Rielly or other odd parts to fill the offensive void because your top four can't figure it out, then you've already lost.

Campbell has to be better too, .889% 3.59 GAA in 4 games? Yeah, not gonna win many series with numbers like that. Most of that was from game 4, he was hung out to dry, but goals 2 and 4 last night were stinkers and his fault. He's gotta be better.

Instead of me ranting on Tavares, Nylander and Holl (like I always do), I figured I'd point the finger at a guy that generally receives little flack from fans, rightfully so, he's usually dominant. Not since games 1 and parts of 2, he hasn't been.

Anyway, I'm rambling because i'm pissed of, that doesn't mean he won't show up tomorrow, but he HAS to or it's over.
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People are gentler on Matthews because it's obvious Keefe is doing nothing to get him going / keep him going.

Best of 3 get your head out your ass Keefe. Have 2 Hart worthy players on your team and becoming obsessed with 2 third liners instead. bUt ThEy wErE tHe BeSt LiNeEeeEeE 🤡🤡🤡🤡
 
We have home ice and can get him away from Cirelli. He needs to show up and have a huge game or we're done.
 
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The MVP chants quieted down real quick huh? Let's see how he responds tomorrow night at home because this is his team and how #34 goes this whole team goes
 
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Auston is due for a massive game… let it be tomorrow.
They all need to play like it’s an elimination game.
 
Skullz said:
We have home ice and can get him away from Cirelli. He needs to show up and have a huge game or we're done.
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In the grand scheme of things, Anthony Cirelli is a 6'0" agitating whatever who plays with a mean Tucker face. Matthews ought to go power on power and lean on, blow up on the boards and dominate Anthony Cirelli en route to 5 on 5 production. If you want to be great, you don't let these speed bumps get in your way. Got to have a healthy amount of disrespect.
 
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saffronleaf said:
yea no more MVP chants please. it's sounds sarcastic given how this series is unfolding.
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On the flip side imagine being the rocket winner and potential Hart winner getting MVP chants and you're coming out for shift 3 and shift 7 because your third line ran a train on an empty net lmao.

A lot of going hard in the playoffs is mental. Tough for Matthews to find the killer instinct with coaching like that.
 
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Matthews GQ said:
People are always gentler on Matthews in terms of showing up in the playoffs. I get it, he's an elite player, scored 60 goals, had 106 points, won the Rocket Richard trophy, may win the Hart trophy. He showed up in game one, continued his regular season efforts and had a great game.

My issues with his play are while he was in Tampa. In game 3 he was noticeable for maybe 2 minutes of the third period. The rest of the game, he just blended in the background and wasn't overly dominant, didn't have that extra step, didn't have that playoff performance you'd expect from a top 5 to 7 player talent in the NHL. Since the Leafs won game 3 due to secondary scoring, much of it went to the wayside, no one cared. I cared, but didn't complain about it.

Game 4 rolls around and does he step up his game? No, he absolutely does not. He had one shot on goal all night... just one. This is a guy that takes pride in his craft, works hard off the ice to stay in shape, practices his shot, eats right, says the right things and shows up all season and performs like a world beater. When the Leafs had a chance to take a stranglehold on Tampa and go back to Toronto up 3 games to 1, what does Matthews do? Absolutely nothing. He dialed it in, completely. Sure, the rest of the team was equal to the task as far as being utter shit, but Matthews is better than the rest of the team, light years, except Marner.

How can he put together a back to back dismal performances in the most important games arguably of his career to date? Sure, Tampa is good, their line is shutting him down. You can use that argument if you want. However, Matthews effort is not there, he's not even trying and it shows. I went back and watched both games 3 and 4 and watched every single play he had on the ice. He was just horrific. Think I'm just spouting hyperbole? Go back and watch games 3 and 4 if you have the ability to do so, let me know where you think I'm wrong. One shot on goal in game 4, yes, 8 penalties against, but it's no excuse for him to be invisible.

All this proves to me is that the pressure of playing in Toronto is too much for most of these players. They're playing scared, they don't want to be criticized. He's not playing like we saw all regular season. If the effort was there and domination without scoring goals, I'd be okay with it. That's not happening here.

If Matthews from games 3 and 4 show up in game 5, same for Marner, then this series is over. You can't expect Kampf, Engvall, Mikheyev, Blackwell, Rielly or other odd parts to fill the offensive void because your top four can't figure it out, then you've already lost.

Campbell has to be better too, .889% 3.59 GAA in 4 games? Yeah, not gonna win many series with numbers like that. Most of that was from game 4, he was hung out to dry, but goals 2 and 4 last night were stinkers and his fault. He's gotta be better.

Instead of me ranting on Tavares, Nylander and Holl (like I always do), I figured I'd point the finger at a guy that generally receives little flack from fans, rightfully so, he's usually dominant. Not since games 1 and parts of 2, he hasn't been.

Anyway, I'm rambling because I'm pissed off, that doesn't mean he won't show up tomorrow, but he HAS to or it's over.
Click to expand...
Every star player gets frustrated when they can't play the way they want to in the playoffs... the question is how do you channel that frustration? Matthews answer, unfortunately, is to sulk. He floats, his body language deflates, and he looks like he just wants the game to end. Someone needs to strap him to a chair, clamp his eyelids open and force him to watch prime Getzlaf in the playoffs until puckdrop tuesday night. Don't get depressed or hopeless... GET MAD. Make your frustration the other team's problem, not yours.

Forget the numbers, we'd all just like to see the guy make a true playoff effort.
 
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DraftSchmaft said:
On the flip side imagine being the rocket winner and potential Hart winner getting MVP chants and you're coming out for shift 3 and shift 7 because your third line ran a train on an empty net lmao.

A lot of going hard in the playoffs is mental. Tough for Matthews to find the killer instinct with coaching like that.
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Keefe: Whose our best player ?

Reporter: Matthews

Keefe: *scoffs* In your opinion I guess.


Insert Teeder's giraffe Gif here.
 
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