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

[LeafsNation75]

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

So how come he was called for roughing and not cross checking? The fact the called it roughing is what makes it look like a bad call.

 

[TD Charlie]

So how come he was called for roughing and not cross checking? The fact the called it roughing is what makes it look like a bad call.

Does it really matter? This happens all the time. I was a little surprised they made that call in a playoff game, but it wasn’t the first time in this series, or even game that i was thinking that

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Agree with most of the others that it’s too early. Just like it was too early to say that he’s a top 5 NHL player.
Way too many people jump the gun one way or the other on young players.

One criticism that I do agree with is that he needs to be more engaged on a regular basis. He’s got a great shot but he’s far too passive in retrieving the puck and defending. Lots of time to improve on the intensity level though as he’s still young and definitely has the talent.

 

[rocketdan9]

nice game but nope

he has to do this on the road...then the tag can be lifted

 

[winnipegger]

He was a no show last year, you can argue all you want but if he showed up and carried the play, the outcome might've been different.

This year he's showed up in the last 2 games, he was pretty invisible in games 1 and 2.

He needs to continue tearing it up now, I still haven't seen him take over a game like MacKinnon has or McDavid in the past

I think it's a mistake to compare Matthews to either of those two. Matthews is a great 40 goal franchise center but hasn't proven he's up there with the elite centers (yet).

 

[Varan]

he's been inconsistent so far, he'll have good games, and he'll have Stamkos games where i didn't know he was dressed for the game unless i check the lineups

too early to tell tho, allow for more games to see if there is a trend

 

[Waterbuf]

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

But you're worried about what we think of Auston Matthews, I guess

 

[sadpanda]

So we got the calder out of the way. Waiting for someone to bring up how many goals he scored in his NHL debut

 

[The List Of Jericho]

He was a no show last year, you can argue all you want but if he showed up and carried the play, the outcome might've been different.

This year he's showed up in the last 2 games, he was pretty invisible in games 1 and 2.

He needs to continue tearing it up now, I still haven't seen him take over a game like MacKinnon has or McDavid in the past

Only someone that didn’t watch Game 1 would say he was invisible...terrible take.

 

[Chris18820]

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.

Was that a serious question about starting Hutchinson? Freddie certainly didnt have his "A" game but none of the goals strike me as being his fault.
Marner injured to the point there is doubts about a long term contract? He has been the Leafs best player in the series, what are you talking about?

 

[Chris18820]

He needs to be more engaged. Needs a play maker on his wing. I dont think Johnsson and Kap are a good fit for him.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Only someone that didn’t watch Game 1 would say he was invisible...terrible take.

Exactly and I have had to say multiple times Matthews played great in Game 1 despite not scoring a goal and was very unlucky to not have done that.

 

[behemolari]

No. Laine has been better.

 

[JRull86]

Your best players need to be your best players at this time of the year. He was good tonight, 2 goals and a post, but outside of tonight, he's been invisible. I didn't think he was great in game 1 either like some here are claiming.

From a Bruins fan who's watched him for 11 playoff games against my team now in a calendar year, his issue isn't so much the goal scoring, it's the fact that when he's not doing that, you don't really notice him on the ice.

 

[ohcomeonref]

In the 2017 playoffs Auston Matthews had 4 goals and 1 assist in the Leafs six game series against the Capitals.

However non Leafs fans on here instead focused on his 1 goal and 1 assist in the seven games against the Bruins from last years playoffs.

This year after four playoff games Matthews currently has 3 goals and 1 assist for 4 points.

So my question is will Matthews being called a no show in the playoffs be over with from non Leafs fans, even though we have the sample size from 2017 to show he never should have been referred to as that.

So, you are saying that his solid 4 games this year disproves he was a ghost in 7 games last year?

 

[LeafsNation75]

So, you are saying that his solid 4 games this year disproves he was a ghost in 7 games last year?

I'm saying that Matthews has 3 goals in the last two games along with an assist, when everyone said he did nothing during Games 1 & 2. So they assumed he would have the same performance like he had in last years playoffs, even though those same people conveniently forgot he was great in the 2017 playoffs.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Honestly I don't notice him much when watching these games. Sure he's a good player but he just doesn't have that part to his game where he dominates and is always noticeable.

But he's still young and I will be a little patient cause he is still on his ELC and still learning the playoff game. But once his absurd contract kicks in next year, I wont be giving him a free pass and will expect him to dominate.

If he gets paid as a top player in NHL, he needs to play like it

 

[sharks9]

Deserved or not, he'll get a lot of criticism until Toronto wins a series at least.

 

[toewsintangibles]

He shows up, but he just isn't as good as he is in the regular season. Just like Rick Nash, Steven Stamkos and others.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

What a weird thing to worry about- look, there's backlash against Matthews because Leafs fans won't shut up about him and he hasn't performed very well in the playoffs so far. He has plenty of time to change that, but it's a weird time to feel validated when your team just lost a first round game and he finally showed up. Just, like, stop talking about him. Stop trying to justify his contract, stop talking about how he's one of the best in the league, just let the results speak for themselves. Other fanbases don't do it, not to the same degree. Let the playoffs play themselves out and speak up then, but jesus, it's a 2 goal game in a loss. Nice game, hope he can do it more and then start talking.

 

[Langdon Alger]

This is only his third playoff series.

 

[82Ninety42011]

A couple games won't end the myth but if he continues to put up points and Leafs win series then yes. He has a huge target on him after signing that contract and rightfully so. He needs to win a series or two before putting any myth about playoffs behind him. Winning this series would be huge for him and Leafs for sure though.

 

[82Ninety42011]

This is only his third playoff series.

Well ya because they keep losing first round that needs to change.

 

[llamateizer]

2 pts in 9 road games.
9 pts in 8 home games

 

[nbwingsfan]

Matthews played great in Game 1 and was unlucky that he had a shot go off the post and Rask stopping him in the final seconds of the 2nd period. So it's easy to say when he didn't register any points, but still played a great game with multiple scoring chances.

He’s unlucky that he missed the net and that Rask made a save... what?