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Speculation: Matthews still hurting

jrgtml67

jrgtml67

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Sep 12, 2011
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Tonight his line did really good defensively, but in my opinion it was mostly Hyman and Brown.

To me Matthews looked sluggish, dis engaged and "sore". His "zip" and magic hands werent there tonight, much like before he missed several games to injury.

Is it just me or did others see this as well.
 
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He never looked like that last year. Yea some games better than others but he never ever reaches...only time ive seen it was right b4 hr missed those games..one was a hooking penalty (game b4 he sat for 2 weeks)
 
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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
 
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I think he’s fine. Maybe not 100% but still very very good and shut down one of the hottest lines in hockey tonight.

The offence will come, his line was dominant.
 
I would agree he is nowhere near 100%. He's not dogging after the puck like he usually does, nor engaging physically on the offensive side of things.

But what he has been consistent at since coming back is his defensive game. Almost always in position, both stick and body. Despite clearly hurting, he is not cutting back on the effort.

I'll take it. Time for others to step up with the offence (and I think we can say that HAS been happening).
 
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Defensive zone ive replayed parts a lot was hyman and brown..same in the ozone. I think it could be to hyman and brown rnt great passers. But the skating speed and watch him in corners b4 injury n now..night and day

Recall zetterberge vs matthews board battle..zipping around like bees and matthews stole it...he hasnt been like that since coming back

Maybe im paranoid but he looks like he is still "sore"
 
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He is hurt.
As well as what the posters above have said, he passed up some opportunities to shoot tonight and sent the puck back to the point or behind the net..
He never does that...he drives the net and bullies his way around......
He is not even close to what he normally is...
Having said that......his skating and defensive work is still there....
He is now just very good and not a superstar..
Let's just hope that his injury improves before too long..
 
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I agree. With the exception of his first game back, he hasn’t looked like himself.

He’s still doing a lot of good things, but more mistakes and isn’t dominating every shift like we’ve grown accustomed to.

Whether physical or mental, he’s not in peak game shape right now.
 
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Man Bear Pig said:
That's nice. Keep living on fantasy island. Why is it hard to admit that our superstar is struggling offensively?
Click to expand...
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
 
If he is hurt then is it worth taking a risk? I would rather rest him and come back 100% healthy
 
jrgtml67 said:
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.
Click to expand...

If those were the two options then the Leafs would have 100% sat him for a month. So clearly those were not the two options. Maybe Matthews is fine, but is just going through a rough patch. Maybe Matthews is never going to be 100% again. That happens with back injuries. Like many hockey fans, I went through that with Lemieux. If they were going to be wait for him to be 100% before allowing him to play again they would still be waiting 30 years later. So he played when he was well enough to play and sometimes that meant he was the most amazing player on the planet, and sometimes that meant he was simply good.

Lots of players are never 100%. Ever. I believe Matthews' himself said about the playing the game before he left with the injury that he was not 100%, but that players are never 100% in this league or something along those lines.

But regardless, I don't have a clue where Matthews is at with his recovery, and neither do you. Who does? Matthews and best team of experts in the NHL. Guarantee they are choosing the best route.
 
Man Bear Pig said:
Offensively, he has been invisible. What did you think I was talking about? Good defensive players are always good in the D zone. That's a given.
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this is a poor take. He's had plenty of struggles with giveaways in the defensive end/neutral zone that have been uncharacteristic of him, and he's had some great games offensively. Being below his usual standards doesn't make him invisible.
 
sparxx87 said:
I agree. With the exception of his first game back, he hasn’t looked like himself.

He’s still doing a lot of good things, but more mistakes and isn’t dominating every shift like we’ve grown accustomed to.

Whether physical or mental, he’s not in peak game shape right now.
Click to expand...

He was a beast vs. FLA. But yeah he has been so-so otherwise. Funny thing is that his line continues to generate scoring chances, and he has a mini 3-game point streak.
 
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...
 
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