Speculation: Matthews still hurting

[WestCoastLeafs]

Would you rather lose him for say a month or have him like this and risk worse injury? Me if he is hurting then tou have to rest him..

Maybe injury and the practice then game had something to do with it? I guess we will see Thursday

If that were the case I don't think they would be playing him. Obviously there is always some level of risk of re-injury, but sometimes playing is the best treatment. If he sits for a few weeks he gets out of game shape which could increase risk of a new injury when he returns.

I don't know, I guess I just trust the medical staff.

 

[Menzinger]

I think the Leafs health-sciences guysbare already fairly conservative about injuries so I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Some guys just take a little while to get back into form

 

[WestCoastLeafs]

If he is hurt or playing bad, why is Babs matching him up against one of best lines in the league all night, Johnny, Monahan, Ferland? with a 30% ozone starts...

That's something I've noticed recently. He seems to be getting match-ups over Kadri which I think is good. I think Kadri works better as an all-around 2-way centre than as a primary shutdown guy.

And it's also amazing progress for Matthews. Last year Babcock would throw an assignment like this here or there to challenge him. Now it really feels like he does it because Matthews is the best guy for the job.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I think the Leafs health-sciences guysbare already fairly conservative about injuries so I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Some guys just take a little while to get back into form

basically this. No chance he'd be playing hurt, especially since we went undefeated without him and are comfortably in a playoff spot. This organization is cautious and takes health very seriously

 

[trellaine201]

imo if hes hurt he shouldnt be playing but then again i am no dr

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

What was his ice time tonight?

Sure, I obviously noticed when #34 was on the ice, yet it seemed like a bit of a rarity.

Maybe something is up there?

Don't see a problem with speculating about that if most of us are suspecting the same thing.

 

[6ix]

Still racking up points while shaking off the rust, that’s what elite players do. Gotta just stick with it and keep working hard.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Don't think he's hurting.

They're playing him hard on the defensive end. You don't do that to a guy who is injured especially on a good team.

I think it's more of him trying to get back up to speed while adjusting to his linemates.

 

[IPS]

No he is not hurt, be real people. We went 4-0 without him. If something was lingering, he wouldn't be played - management knows he is our future.

He had stretches where he looked like this last year, and he worked through it.

 

[Rogie]

He's been ok, just ok

How many still remember that I wonder? good one!

 

[Maurice Del Taco]

Sophomore slump...?

He'll be fine. Can't be in boss mode all the time.

 

[MapleLeafistan]

Was watching the game on SNW. They claimed Matthews still isn't 100%.

Also, Matthews for the first time ever had 0 shots on goal. First game since his debut. He holds the NHL record now.

 

[Drytoast]

Looked fine to me along the boards wrestling for the pucks.

They wouldn't take chances with his back and neither would Matthews. I think he's doing fine. Still getting points at a ppg basis.

Relax

 

[hullsy47]

He's been invisible since coming back. Wouldn't surprise me if something was bothering him

not really invisible ,2 goals in montreal ,goal called back against Arizona ,I mean JOHNNY HOCKEY didn't do anything either end of the ice ...
Mathews did his job ...bozak cost Freddie the shutout IMO

 

[Dayjobdave]

Sell high?

 

[BertCorbeau]

Still isn't handling the puck on a string and controlling it down low like we've seen him so something it still off IMO. Wonder if it was a wrist injury that he's still recovering from.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

That's nice. Keep living on fantasy island. Why is it hard to admit that our superstar is struggling offensively?

Because he isn't really, he has had 5 points in 6 games since returning from injury, if 5 points in 6 games counts as "struggling" than you are doing alright

Matt Duchene is struggling, we think Matthews is struggling because we are used to seeing him dominate and last night he didn't but he's really not struggling 5 points in 6 games, 24 in 22 overall

he's been fine

 

[al secord]

WWHBD? What Would Howard Berger Do?

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Sell high?

Maybe the Leafs can still get Domi + Dvorak for him.

 

[Mess]

He does appear to bothered by something still as he certainly is playing at about 75% of his usual impact.

 

[ULF_55]

not really invisible ,2 goals in montreal ,goal called back against Arizona ,I mean JOHNNY HOCKEY didn't do anything either end of the ice ...
Mathews did his job ...bozak cost Freddie the shutout IMO

I thought Bozak should have done more but the one camera angle showed about 18" of open space where the puck went.

Andersen messed up the angle, so it was a combination of Bozak not keeping the guy boxed out and Andersen misplaying the shot. A good shot but a lot of room there from the point.

 

[DarkKnight]

Brunt on 590 just said it's pretty obvious from watching Matthews he isn't right.

 

[Duke Silver]

that's very different from saying he's been invisible. If you couldn't notice him out there, especially against Montreal and Florida and Washington, it really reflects poorly on you. He hasn't been at peak form but that isn't what you said

Why can't you just disagree instead of calling people insane? Why the rush to go on the offensive?

It's plain as day to anyone who's watching that Matthews isn't playing up to his usual standards since returning to the lineup. That game against Arizona was perhaps the worst of his career. You can see it in his legs and in his stickhandling.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Why can't you just disagree instead of calling people insane? Why the rush to go on the offensive?

It's plain as day to anyone who's watching that Matthews isn't playing up to his usual standards since returning to the lineup. That game against Arizona was perhaps the worst of his career. You can see it in his legs and in his stickhandling.

Again, saying he's not up to his usual standards is fine. I'd even agree with that. Saying he's been invisible since he's been back is a lie and I can't take that seriously

 

[Duke Silver]

Again, saying he's not up to his usual standards is fine. I'd even agree with that. Saying he's been invisible since he's been back is a lie and I can't take that seriously

Maybe you should take things in general a little less seriously.