Is Matthews the worst playoff performer ever?

[Regal]

In regards to Sid and OV, you're pulling averages from the careers of two guys in their late 30s vs. superstars in their prime. OV was a great playoff performer in his prime and miles ahead of Matthews. I just can't see Matthews ever having a series like Ovechkin did against the Pens in 2009.

I believe in recent year we haven’t seen the drop in league GPG numbers in the playoffs compared to the regular season that we used to as well

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Idiot. If you actually watch hockey you will see he is clearly playing injured and in all likelihood need surgery IMO

Hmmm. I remember Draisaitl skating on one leg in last years playoffs and still having a huge positive offensive impact in the Oilers’ success. Lots of other examples too.
Not sure why Matthews get a pass from some every single year.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Maybe it’s the others that don’t have enough self-respect?

I hope that was a joke.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Interesting how guys like Matthews or Stamkos are a menace in the regular season but can’t flip the switch in the playoffs and just perform “ok” at or around ppg pace but with fewer goals and clutch moments. Sure, they get analyzed and collapsed on by opponents more but it’s the same for all the other star players but they keep performing and find other ways to contribute.

Is it a phenomenon reserved for the sniper type of player? I don’t think so, Draisaitl, Connor or Nylander seem to do just fine right now.

With Matthews, I think it's two-fold.

One, he doesn't seem to drive the net with his size. His chances he gets are all long/medium distance shots. So when the opposition takes those chances away (or limits the time to get off a shot) in the playoffs, he doesn't seem to adapt by scoring more "greasy" goals around the crease.

Two, in comparison to the other elite players, Matthews isn't a great playmaker. He can be more easily "shutdown" because if you take away his goal scoring, he doesn't bring much else offensively. Look at guys like McDavid, Draisaitl, Kucherov, etc. They can go an entire series without scoring a single goal, but still dominate with their playmaking and setting up teammates. Matthews either scores a truckload of goals or he doesn't dominate.

 

[Lahey]

3 goals in last 20 yes but he’s also ppg in that time? Yes def the worst playoff performer ever lmao.

Good thread “leafshater67”

 

[daver]

Nice jinx thread!

It's the 8th annual. This thread replaces the Cherry Blossoms in D.C. as a sign of spring.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Gallagher is not in the playoffs atm

Neither is Matthews.

 

[Faterson]

He's a good little Phil Danault like player , nothing to be ashamed about

The only thing Matthews and Danault have in common is the moustache. Otherwise, Danault is awesome. (Moustaches are a common ornament among Frenchmen and Mexicans.)

 

[sampollock]

he is such a clown
glad the figs have him.
never takes the team on this back and wins a series.

 

[Lights911]

He's always "injured" in the playoffs...

 

[Icarium]

One of the biggest frauds ever, but gets a free pass

How exactly does he gets a free pass?

 

[River Meadow]

He is gutless and heartless.

Good for goals in the regular season but not much else.

 

[Shark Finn]

There's caring about your general appearance and then there's Erik Karlsson and Austin Matthews

And... There's exactly what wrong with that?

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

How exactly does he gets a free pass?

It took 9 years for people to start talking about him being bad in hard games, but still not without a million caveats to give him excuses.

 

[sampollock]

He is gutless and heartless.

Good for goals in the regular season but not much else.

but yet the fans love him and SN claims he is the best.. joke

 

[Bruce Granville]

Matthews hasn't been healthy in the playoffs for the past few years. People are going to rip him for lack of numbers but it's not really fair to him.

Just like with the guy drafted right behind him, eh?
Fans of Canadian hockey teams don‘t care about injuries.
And they like shifting goal posts…

During his almost a goal per game, almost 70 goal, record breaking (at least for the Leafs) season goalscoring was the most important trait in a hockey player.

Now he has only two goals, but hey, he is still a point per game, he is good. Really.

But not worth double digits. Luckily they don‘t get paid for the playoffs…

Sad, but true: he peaked in his first game ever in the NHL.

 

[Icarium]

It took 9 years for people to start talking about him being bad in hard games

No, it f***ing didn't. People have been talking about it since before Covid.

 

[MikeS24]

What summarized his style of play to me was at the end with their goalie pulled. Puck is in the corner and Knies is digging like an animal for the puck with 2 Panthers. Matthews just standing next to him waiting lol. Does 1 or two digs in and that's abou tit.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

No, it f***ing didn't. People have been talking about it since before Covid.

Not true at all, but for some reason the guy sitting in Pittsburgh is lecturing me on the topic.

 

[tfwnogf]

they should have given the C to Nylander.

 

[MikeS24]

FLA isn't a good matchup for him either.

9 playoff games against FLA. 0 goals

 

[Icarium]

Not true at all, but for some reason the guy sitting in Pittsburgh is lecturing me on the topic.

I am sitting a lot further away from Toronto than Pittsburgh but thanks to this newfangled internet thing I was aware of people saying stuff about Matthews anyway. Imagine that!

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

I am sitting a lot further away from Toronto than Pittsburgh but thanks to this newfangled internet thing I was aware of people saying stuff about Matthews anyway. Imagine that!

That's the difference, I'm referring to real life. No need to share more of your internet browsing habits. Matthews has got a free pass for 9 years, and is still being protected.

 

[MikeS24]

The injury excuse won’t fly. He’s underperformed for 8 straight years now. Lots of players play injured and have big playoffs. Draisaitl was playing on one leg last year and helped get his team to game 7 of the SCF.
With Matthews it’s less about injuries and more about disappearing when the games get tighter and more physical in the playoffs.
He needs to change the narrative soon.

No, Drai was on one leg the year they beat CGY then lost to COL in the West finals.

Last year, Drai was hurt even worse. Ribs. He couldn't much in the finals. Even Dallas. He got injured in the Vancouver series. Worst was Kane. He could not sit down on the bench. Would stand in between shifts. Finally got shut down in the finals.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Just like with the guy drafted right behind him, eh?
Fans of Canadian hockey teams don‘t care about injuries.
And they like shifting goal posts…

?????????