Matthews with 0 goals in the tournament

[Ace Card Bedard]

This will only further add to his choker reputation, deserved or not.

Luckily for him, Matthews should still have plenty of opportunities to change that perception.

 

[robertocarlos]

He's saving them for the SCF.

 

[OldCraig71]

Matthews was good but man can he not bury it in the clutch. The man must get nervous or something. Easily should have ended it in OT.

A perfect description of his NHL career. When the going gets tough don't count on Matthews and that isn't a shot at him or the Leafs but merely the reality of what he has shown us.

 

[authentic]

Matthews was actually good in the final game. Not great, but it isn't the time to rip him.

This is how Matthews plays in most big games. It’s a complete myth that he doesn’t show up or doesn’t care.

 

[BHD]

eichel was good

True, but the OP is going by production. Eichel was good overall, but same as Matthews... no goals.

I'm not sure what to make of Team USA. They were impressive collectively, but only a handful of their skaters had (what I would consider) a standout tournament.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

True, but the OP is going by production. Eichel was good overall, but same as Matthews... no goals.

I'm not sure what to make of Team USA. They were impressive collectively, but only a handful of their skaters had (what I would consider) a standout tournament.

Eichel is not primarily known as an elite goal scorer.
Matthews is, just not when it counts the most.

 

[The Podium]

Yikes.

I’ve seen you post this take in two separate threads, but the blind Leafs homerism needs to stop.

Let’s break this down.

View attachment 980294

First… Hughes(#86) and Nelson(#29) are correctly covering their points.

Hanifin(#15) is correctly covering the front of the net as he’s the LHD and the puck is in the USA right corner. He’s got Point wrapped up in front.

Fox(#23), the RHD, regardless of the path he took, is going to close down Marner in the USA right corner. Marner is standing completely still and is no threat to score from that position. All he can do is pass. Fox is going to close him down.

Matthews(#34) is the center and the slot threat where his opposing center, McDavid, finds himself is 100% his responsibility. Look at the path. Look at the dots. That’s simple coverage.

Matthews got caught puck watching Marner who, again, is zero threat to score from there or even drive the net as Fox is closing him down.

Matthews’ responsibility on that play is to take Marner’s pass away to the obvious man he is supposed to be covering, McDavid.

I’m sorry, but if you truly think Matthews made the right play there, I either have to question the level of hockey you’ve played/coached or if you’re just being a completely biased Leafs fan.

Hockey 101.

@Joe Sakic
Hockey 101 you say

Let me introduce you to the Box + 1 which was the set up in OT when the goal was scored.



The centers responsibility is to support the D and the nearest player ( RD or C) to the puck carrier is meant to pressure the player with possession. In this case Matthews assumed Fox was late to the play and was supporting his D who should have recreated the box and defended the slot.

Now IF Fox was in position, when the puck was dumped in Fox should’ve immediately been on Marner and Matthews can maintain the box and defend McDavid in the slot. If Fox was in position but late, Matthews role was to support his D, defend the puck carrier and pressure Marner in the corner while Fox maintained the box and defended the slot.

Since Fox was so far out of position, Matthews didn’t realize he had no one supporting him and committed to the system instead of bailing to make the safe play.

Now who is responsible?

Fox was 100% the reason for the defensive breakdown HOWEVER Matthews error was more costly as he should have recognized that Fox wasn’t there to support him and he should’ve bailed on his role to maintain the box.

Now Fox closed in on Marner quick after Matthews but only because he was way out of position. He should never have been following the route behind the net and if he was in position but late he would have been behind Matthews defending the slot.

If Fox is in position defending the slot and Matthews isn’t on Marner, than Marner as a righty can free skate into the slot and have an angle to the far side corner.

 

[LaCarriere]

He's playing injured and will be playing injured for Toronto in the playoffs as well.

We all know it's his wrist.

too much self time?

 

[nbwingsfan]

The best goal scorer in the world had 0 goals in the 3 games he played. I was very surprised to hear this but he was good defensively.

He’s creating narrative of one of the worst big game star players since Thornton

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Jack is not the last player to blame on that. Since when does the centre have to play man on man? They're supposed to support along the boards.

What? There's absolutely no reason for Matthews to chase there at ALL. If Marner shoots and scores from there, it's almost assuredly on Helly for giving up a bad goal. Fox is also Marner's guy and below the goal line, there's almost nothing Marner can do there that would cause any danger in the attacking end. Matthews stays where he is, Marner probably circles for a bit on the boards and tries to find a more heavy danger chance/area. The US were also clearly in a man to man set up defensively last night, the zone coverage they were playing in the first Canada game was baiting their dmen to shoot more from the points with the absence of Makar. Obviously Makar was back last night, so they shed away from that strategy

 

[Cheapseats]

Matthews will ever win you those monumental games. Player 34 had the game on his stick like 3 times and whiffed.

 

[robertocarlos]

If he's nervous he should picture the audience with no pants on.

 

[Ratsreign]

Complete nonfactor? He was the best player in the game with the most points of any player on both teams (tied with Marner).

Well, we’ve all heard, repeatedly since game 1, how much Binnington sucks.
So how could such a sieve stone Auston in OT? It must mean Matthews is no bueno.

 

[Divine]

Well, we’ve all heard, repeatedly since game 1, how much Binnington sucks.
So how could such a sieve stone Auston in OT? It must mean Matthews is no bueno.

The US just doesn’t have it in them. They can get to the dance but they’ll never win.

 

[Peiskos]

US has high scoring players on paper, but there just isn't any track record of their stars showing up when it matters most, contrary to Canada where MacKinnon, McDavid and company are proven to put the puck in the net in high stress, big time moments.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

@Joe Sakic
Hockey 101 you say

Let me introduce you to the Box + 1 which was the set up in OT when the goal was scored.



The centers responsibility is to support the D and the nearest player ( RD or C) to the puck carrier is meant to pressure the player with possession. In this case Matthews assumed Fox was late to the play and was supporting his D who should have recreated the box and defended the slot.

Now IF Fox was in position, when the puck was dumped in Fox should’ve immediately been on Marner and Matthews can maintain the box and defend McDavid in the slot. If Fox was in position but late, Matthews role was to support his D, defend the puck carrier and pressure Marner in the corner while Fox maintained the box and defended the slot.

Since Fox was so far out of position, Matthews didn’t realize he had no one supporting him and committed to the system instead of bailing to make the safe play.

Now who is responsible?

Fox was 100% the reason for the defensive breakdown HOWEVER Matthews error was more costly as he should have recognized that Fox wasn’t there to support him and he should’ve bailed on his role to maintain the box.

Now Fox closed in on Marner quick after Matthews but only because he was way out of position. He should never have been following the route behind the net and if he was in position but late he would have been behind Matthews defending the slot.

If Fox is in position defending the slot and Matthews isn’t on Marner, than Marner as a righty can free skate into the slot and have an angle to the far side corner.

Bro going for the 2026 Olympic gold in mental gymnastics

 

[Summer Rose]

I'm going to make a football comparison to Matthews in the championship game. It's not going to be the best comparison, so you can discredit it if you wish.

Let's say Matthews is a quarterback, for the sake of this analogy. In the championship game, he manages to throw for 300 yards, but doesn't complete a touchdown pass. In overtime, he has an open look for a game-winning touchdown, but overthrows his receiver. A play or two later, he throws a game-losing pick six. You can argue that he cost his team the game within a few plays, but he's also a large part of the reason his team was in overtime in the first place.

Okay, discredit me all you want now.

 

[Peiskos]

I'm going to make a football comparison to Matthews in the championship game. It's not going to be the best comparison, so you can discredit it if you wish.

Let's say Matthews is a quarterback, for the sake of this analogy. In the championship game, he manages to throw for 300 yards, but doesn't complete a touchdown pass. In overtime, he has an open look for a game-winning touchdown, but overthrows his receiver. A play or two later, he throws a game-losing pick six. You can argue that he cost his team the game within a few plays, but he's also a large part of the reason his team was in overtime in the first place.

Okay, discredit me all you want now.

Hockey isn't a sport of moral victories, it's a "what have you done for me lately" kind of sport. You either put the puck in the net in big time moments or you don't. Canada's young stars have proven they can do it time and time again, US needs to head back to the drawing board in that regard.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Pretty clear blown coverage by Matthews

I just said he played great, it’s never enough for you guys lmao

Ya that was very poor coverage, Brady was the best US player, Matthews looked better in the tournament when Brady was added to his line, otherwise he didn’t do much in tournament.

 

[Summer Rose]

Hockey isn't a sport of moral victories, it's a "what have you done for me lately" kind of sport. You either put the puck in the net in big time moments or you don't. Canada's young stars have proven they can do it time and time again, US needs to head back to the drawing board in that regard.

I agree. I guess what I was trying to get at is that despite his squandering of the game in sudden death, you don't get there in the first place without him. He didn't have a bad game overall, but he did cost the team when it mattered most.

 

[Ratsreign]

The US just doesn’t have it in them. They can get to the dance but they’ll never win.

So far, so true.
But it was still on the razor edge of a Canadian meltdown here last night. I love how competitive these Canada/US games are. Looking forward to the Olympic tourney.

 

[JKG33]

The most impactful US forward by far in the final game, despite playing injured.

Well if dipshit Dom's chart says so, it must be true!

Something has been hampering his goalscoring ability all year long. The 4 Nations tournament was just a continuation of exactly what we’ve seen from him this whole season.

As a Leaf fan it is concerning as we need his goalscoring come the playoffs

What's his excuse for the other 7 years of playoffs?

 

[Joe Sakic]

@Joe Sakic
Hockey 101 you say

Let me introduce you to the Box + 1 which was the set up in OT when the goal was scored.



The centers responsibility is to support the D and the nearest player ( RD or C) to the puck carrier is meant to pressure the player with possession. In this case Matthews assumed Fox was late to the play and was supporting his D who should have recreated the box and defended the slot.

Now IF Fox was in position, when the puck was dumped in Fox should’ve immediately been on Marner and Matthews can maintain the box and defend McDavid in the slot. If Fox was in position but late, Matthews role was to support his D, defend the puck carrier and pressure Marner in the corner while Fox maintained the box and defended the slot.

Since Fox was so far out of position, Matthews didn’t realize he had no one supporting him and committed to the system instead of bailing to make the safe play.

Now who is responsible?

Fox was 100% the reason for the defensive breakdown HOWEVER Matthews error was more costly as he should have recognized that Fox wasn’t there to support him and he should’ve bailed on his role to maintain the box.

Now Fox closed in on Marner quick after Matthews but only because he was way out of position. He should never have been following the route behind the net and if he was in position but late he would have been behind Matthews defending the slot.

If Fox is in position defending the slot and Matthews isn’t on Marner, than Marner as a righty can free skate into the slot and have an angle to the far side corner.

Fully acknowledge Fox made a mistake. My disagreement is that his breakdown was more manageable than what Matthews did. Fox lost his guy and is coming over to close in on Marner who is in the corner. Assume Marner skates to a better shooting angle, we want that to occur more so than we want Matthews to dive on him and leave McJesus wide open in the slot.

After the initial breakdown by Fox we need to limit risk. If he shoots from the purple circle below it is much better than a wide-open shot from the slot due to the angle the goalie can play on Marner.

I'm not sure if we're talking past each other at this point or not, lol. I want to make it clear that I acknowledge Fox made a mistake. The goal is not 100% on Matthews, while I do view his mistake as the most costly in this moment.

And as we've said, the game is moving at 100mph at ice level. These guys have to make a decision in about 0.5 seconds. But still, I'm pissed.

 

[JKG33]

To be fair he played pretty well, was good on the forecheck, created the Tkachuck goal with the wrap around attempt, was difficult to contain.

The wrap around attempt that he flubbed? Lmfao Tkachuk cleaning up his mess isn't the flex you think it is

 

[JKG33]

I'm going to make a football comparison to Matthews in the championship game. It's not going to be the best comparison, so you can discredit it if you wish.

Let's say Matthews is a quarterback, for the sake of this analogy. In the championship game, he manages to throw for 300 yards, but doesn't complete a touchdown pass. In overtime, he has an open look for a game-winning touchdown, but overthrows his receiver. A play or two later, he throws a game-losing pick six. You can argue that he cost his team the game within a few plays, but he's also a large part of the reason his team was in overtime in the first place.

Okay, discredit me all you want now.

If you want to use a QB analogy, it's Dak Prescott. Often good enough or better to get the team to the playoffs, makes some great plays but ultimately regresses in the playoffs including costly turnovers. And is nowhere near worth his salary while his "peers" step-up in big moments