Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn ImagesCan someone please let the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews know that there’s a playoff series going on that desperately needs his help.
We’d ask, but we can’t seem to find him.
At least, not where it matters.
The former 69-goal scorer, who is either hurt or in hiding under Aleksander Barkov's Selke-like shadow, has no goals in four games against the Florida Panthers. He does have 14 shots. And he has chipped in with a few assists.
But Matthews is not being paid $13.25 million for shot attempts and to set up others. No, the reason why he's the highest-paid player in the NHL — and the reason why the Maple Leafs gave him the captaincy this year — is because of his ability to lead offensively.
That means scoring goals. Lots and lots of goals.
After all, that's what the best players are doing these days.
Everywhere you look, superstars have taken over the playoffs in a way that only they can do.
The last time Matthews scored an even-strength goal was in Game 3 against the Senators. That was two-and-a-half weeks ago. Since then, the once-red hot power play has gone cold and the Leafs have blown a 0-2 series lead against the Panthers that is now all tied up 2-2 with Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday in Toronto.
We said it heading into Game 4 and we'll say it again heading into Game 5: Matthews needs to step up.
He and Marner have done a pretty good disappearing act when matched up against Selke Trophy finalists’ Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart. But that's no excuse. The best players are going to see the best checkers. You don't think Rantanen is getting a ton of extra attention from the Jets? How about Connor McDavid? Or Draisaitl?
The difference is that you notice Rantanen, McDavid, Draisaitl every single time they step on the ice. But aside from winning faceoffs, we're not noticing Matthews. Not like we're used to seeing him.
His shot doesn't look dangerous. He seems to have lost a step in his stride. And he has failed to add a physical component to make up for his shortcomings.
Simply put, Matthews has been a passenger in the series.
Again, maybe he's hurt. Or maybe Sergei Bobrovsky is starting to show why he is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner. Or maybe — just maybe — coach Craig Berube, who temporarily juggled his lines in Game 4, needs to mix them up again and split Matthews from Marner.
Whatever he chooses, he can't roll it back like this for Game 5.
Say what you want about how goaltending and defense wins championships. At the end of the day, your best players have to be your best players if you hope to have any chance of advancing deep in the playoffs.
Just ask Nikita Kucherov, who had no goals in a five-game series loss to Florida in the first round. Or Martin Necas, who had one goal in a seven-game loss to Dallas.
After that, take your pick.
It certainly hasn't been Matthews. And it hasn't been Marner. And unless that changes fast, both will be soon joining Kucherov and Necas out of the playoffs.
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