Has Matthews struggled in the playoffs?

[Man Bear Pig]

People seem to forget that Matthews is just a kid. He's also being shadowed by arguably the best defensive forward of the last 10+ years in PB. I'm no TM fan but Matthews is going to be just fine moving forward. Sometimes you have to lose in order to learn how to win.

Stop it. You need to follow the narrative and pile on. Kick em while they're down. It's HF tradition.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Matthews really hit a sophomore slump this season. But I think it could bring more motivation back to him going into next season.

 

[WJCJ]

I am a Bruins fan and of course I have really enjoyed this series so far but it's only been two games. Mathews is a great player, let's not forget what Bergeron, Krejci, and Chara did to Pittsburgh a few seasons ago. I think it was 1 point between Crosby and Malkin in that entire series and that was on a pp goal if I remember correctly. These guys are elite defensive players. He'll be fine, I just hope it's not in this series.

 

[Plural]

Big games...the first two games in round one? Funny, he was great last year in round one and I wouldn't consider those big games. Not exactly talking game 7 OT here. But yeah, clearly.

One could argue that every playoff game is a big game.

Nevertheless, Matthews is still one of the best Leafs this postseason. I do think he needs to be better in home games, but the entire team is struggling and Matthews has been among the best Leafs so far. Granted it's sort of like saying he's been the tallest midget, but still.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Matthews really hit a sophomore slump this season. But I think it could bring more motivation back to him going into next season.

40+ goal PPG pace is a slump?

 

[HolyCrap]

Ignore that poster. It’s a troll.

 

[ole ole]

One could argue that every playoff game is a big game.

Nevertheless, Matthews is still one of the best Leafs this postseason. I do think he needs to be better in home games, but the entire team is struggling and Matthews has been among the best Leafs so far. Granted it's sort of like saying he's been the tallest midget, but still.

Love that.The tallest midget.

 

[ThePhoenixx]

Best line in hockey I'd say.

You could call it the "Chia line".

 

[Lovedemfanboys]

Lot of cheap shots and ad hominem on this thread. Matthews hasn't been as good as Toronto ten projected him to be but he isn't problem either. The kid is 20 years old. Next game will be interesting to watch. I bet he will have a great game.

 

[ccman68]

Problem is that Matthews sucks on the powerplay. When you are getting shut down by a guy like Bergeron you have to make up for it by scoring on the powerplay. Matthews just cant do that.

Leafs fans only care about even strenght points though so i guess it doesnt even matter.

 

[Braunbaer]

I don't really get the argument that he is playing against Bergeron.
Yes, Bergeron is one of the best shutdown-centers in the game, but a generational player like Matthews should be able to overcome this from time to time.
It's not like Bergeron can render every opponent invisible.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Matthews is the only player from the Leafs I would salivate to have playing for us.

 

[paragon]

Maybe he is secretly Russian? That would explain this Ovechkin thread.

 

[NDiesel]

Matthews is the only player from the Leafs I would salivate to have playing for us.

I would really love Marner too....but his play this serious so far may be changing that opinion, he isn't handling the physical game too well.

 

[Raging Bull]

Every Leaf has struggled Auston included.

 

[Spirit of 67]

Lots of players struggle early on in their playoff careers. No need to be concerned yet.

It would also be easier on him if he had help. No one is playing well. Not just him.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Pastrnak > Matthews now and moving forward.

 

[BruinLVGA]

I would really love Marner too....but his play this serious so far may be changing that opinion, he isn't handling the physical game too well.

You nailed it, re Marner. I have doubts that he could play through serious physical play. That's why I have not mentioned him. It's very early in his career, so nothing is set in stone, though.

 

[danpantz]

I don't really get the argument that he is playing against Bergeron.
Yes, Bergeron is one of the best shutdown-centers in the game, but a generational player like Matthews should be able to overcome this from time to time.
It's not like Bergeron can render every opponent invisible.

I'm not going too far out on a limb in saying that Crosby is much better than Matthews and Bergeron has shut him down multiple times.

Bergeron is more of a generational player than Matthews right now and it's been on full display so far in this series.

Matthews isn't struggling, he's getting dominated by a better player on a better line.

 

[daver]

You need at least playoff 13 games in order to draw an inarguble conclusion.

 

[NyQuil]

If the narrative was “young centre finding his way early in his career for a darkhorse young playoff team” it’s more understandable than “franchise generational centre of a Stanley Cup favourite”.

 

[Sting]

He's not even in the same stratosphere as McDavid, we know that. Having watched the last two games, he seems overwhelmed and ineffective. A little surprised honestly.

 

[hambone1818]

Matthews is running into the best defensive forward of this generation and a good team defensive approach. I do think part of it is his age and inexperience in the playoffs, but it's a tough matchup for the kid. This doesn't mean anything long-term, and really it doesn't mean he can't have a huge game on Monday, but I think he's been neutralized in this postseason so far.

 

[Do or Die]

Matthews? Hell, the "seasoned vets" on the Leafs, have been useless.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

He has been mostly invisible, although a lot of credit is due to the Bruins top line, Bergeron in particular.

The only player that Bergeron can't shut down is McDavid. Just too much speed and skill.