Is the myth that Auston Matthews does not show up in the playoffs finally over?

[Ryan Michaels]

It doesn't prove he's a clutch playoff performer but the idea that he was a playoff bust after one bad series at the age of 20, against the best defensive center in the league was ****ing idiotic trolling.

 

[LeafsNation75]

is the sampling larger that supports a no show, or does it support a world class talent that dominates games?

That said guy is pretty young, maybe the answer is the sample size no matter what side you are on is way way way too small to make such a judgement.

Yet after last years playoff series there was a lot of non Leafs fans who declared Matthews to be a playoff failure based on those seven games, even though Leafs fans mentioned the sample size of his first playoff series in 2017 when he got 4 goals and 1 assist in six games.

 

[fsanford]

Yet after last years playoff series there was a lot of non Leafs fans who declared Matthews to be a playoff failure based on those seven games, even though Leafs fans mentioned the sample size of his first playoff series in 2017 when he got 4 goals and 1 assist in six games.

So they were kind foolish to bring it up weren't they.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

Matthews is elite, but the Leafs are scrambling for solutions at the moment. Do they start Hutchinson given Freddie's erratic play tonight? Does their winning games 5 and 6 in a previous season mean anything?
Where was Marner? Is he injured to the point you have doubts about a long-term contract?

There are a lot of questions here, and only a Leafs series win can adequately answer them.

 

[LeafsNation75]

But if you care about Matthews reputation the only way that gets cleared out is a dominant run and probably some sort of hardware.

So Matthews winning the Calder Trophy does not count for anything?

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

The sample size is just way too small and you can kinda spin the numbers either way you want. You can say he has 8 goals in 17 games is solid, but you can also say he has 8 even strength points in 17 playoff games and that’s not good for a player of his caliber whose calling card is even strength production.

Overall it’s too early to make a definitive conclusion.

 

[The National]

So Matthews winning the Calder Trophy does not count for anything?

Not really.

 

[Copenhagen91]

If others can make other topics when they thought Matthews was a playoff no show like last year, why can't it I do the same thing after he's had back to back games of success when it comes to his goal scoring?

Why do Leaf fans always need validation from everyone else? We all know they give enough of it to themselves.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

So Matthews winning the Calder Trophy does not count for anything?

For his playoff resume, no, it literally does not count for anything.

 

[LeafsNation75]

So they were kind foolish to bring it up weren't they.

That's why Leafs fans brought up how did in the 2017 playoffs, when non Leafs fans decided he will always be horrible in future playoff series based on last year.

 

[NiL8r87]

Do they start Hutchinson given Freddie's erratic play tonight?

No...

 

[Captain Bowie]

I'm not worried about what others on a message board will think about me.

You're just extremely worried about what people think of Matthews.

 

[McFlyingV]

If Matthews was able to score on that shot in Game 1 which hit the post or his chance right before the 2nd intermission, no one talks about him not showing up in the first two games. Although like I said before he played great in the first game despite not scoring a goal.

Maybe. I just think there have been much more noticeable players in a good way in this series. When Matthews isn't carrying the puck effectively or driving the net (something he hasn't done enough of in this series) he isn't overly noticeable out there. That's because he's not physical and his defensive game is solid, but nothing that really stands out.

He hasn't been bad in this series, but hasn't been anything special either. I'm sure most people expect him to make a noticeable impact every shift out there given the contract he was given starting next season.

 

[ijuka]

This thread would be cool if he won the conn-smythe, or at least had great playoffs while leading his team to the conference finals.

Making such a thread after he scores 2 goals in a game his team lost seems odd to me.

 

[LeafsNation75]

This thread would be cool if he won the conn-smythe, or at least had great playoffs while leading his team to the conference finals.

Making such a thread after he scores 2 goals in a game his team lost seems odd to me.

So it's okay when those people bashed him for a year after last years playoffs, even though there was the sample size of his great play in the 2017 playoffs.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Its been a mixed bag in this series, even within the individual games. He's had his good moments, & others that weren't as good.

Like Tonight. Late in a 1 goal game his teammate gets pinned & there's a board battle. He's standing right beside them just watching as the other Bruins digs the puck out, not getting into the battle, not poking at the puck, nothing. Just standing there watching the Bruins regain possession. And it wasn't just a split second thing either, he could have got in there & helped regain possession.

Its things like that within games where he has his passive moments, needs to get into the battle a bit more. But this was his best game so far for sure.

Wasn't great in Boston though, so hopefully he shows up for game 5. The Leafs need him.

 

[foggyvisor]

You can say he has 8 goals in 17 games is solid, but you can also say he has 8 even strength points in 17 playoff games and that’s not good for a player of his caliber

Exactly. We're talking about a pplayer that was hyped to be generational. His play takes a step back in the playoffs, which is not something you would say of a great player. I don't see the extra gear needed to win. He's a bit like a much more talented Bobby Ryan. No intensity.

Even tonight, his even-strength goal is cancelled out by his stupid penalty and the ensuing PP goal against.

 

[fsanford]

That's why Leafs fans brought up how did in the 2017 playoffs, when non Leafs fans decided he will always be horrible in future playoff series based on last year.

Its a very subjective discussion, based on ones expectations of a guy who is probably considered the 2nd best 1st overall pick of this decade.
Until the guy gets to play about 5 or more season of SC playoffs, nobody can really say one way or another

Personally I think he has been fine, but not yet dominating, and that probably will take a few years.

Tavares is the high price veteran, and to me he has not done enough. 2 Shots on goal tonight, he is the guy they brought in to take them to the next level.

 

[Palmetto]

Matthews is elite, but the Leafs are scrambling for solutions at the moment. Do they start Hutchinson given Freddie's erratic play tonight? Does their winning games 5 and 6 in a previous season mean anything?
Where was Marner? Is he injured to the point you have doubts about a long-term contract?

There are a lot of questions here, and only a Leafs series win can adequately answer them.

Only real question was Marner but not long term

 

[McFlyingV]

Its been a mixed bag in this series, even within the individual games.

Like Tonight. Late in a 1 goal game his teammate gets pinned & there's a board battle. He's standing right beside them just watching as the other Bruins digs the puck out, not getting into the battle, not poking at the puck, nothing. Just standing there watching the Bruins regain possession. And it wasn't just a split second thing either, he could have got in there & helped regain possession.

Its things like that within games where he has his passive moments, needs to get into the battle a bit more. But this was his best game so far for sure. Wasn't great in Boston though, so hopefully he shows up for game 5. The Leafs need him.

That's a pretty fair criticism. He often goes stretches of games where he doesn't look engaged, doesn't get into battles or try to take over games. The difference between watching Mackinnon and Matthews in these playoffs has been night and day. Mackinnon is noticed pretty much every shift and always looks like he is trying to make something happen. Matthews just needs to get engaged more in these game.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Exactly. We're talking about a pplayer that was hyped to be generational. His play takes a step back in the playoffs, which is not something you would say of a great player. I don't see the extra gear needed to win. He's a bit like a much more talented Bobby Ryan. No intensity.

Even tonight, his even-strength goal is cancelled out by his stupid penalty and the ensuing PP goal against.

That penalty on Matthews was questionable at best since he was called for rouging and all the other "roughing" calls the refs let both teams get away with.

 

[peterthegreat12]

No.

 

[foggyvisor]

That penalty on Matthews was questionable at best since he was called for rouging and all the other "roughing" calls the refs let both teams get away with.

He essentially crosschecked a guy in the face, so yeah, it was pretty dumb.

 

[Elias GOATtersson]

Two games lol

 

[Saekk]

As it was too early to call him useless in the playoffs before, calling him a great player in them is even earlier.

At this point, truth lies in the middle.