Matthews finished Monday's game with 23:24 of ice time — over two minutes more than any other skater on both Boston and Toronto.
Matthews finished Monday's game with 23:24 of ice time — over two minutes more than any other skater on both Boston and Toronto.
When the Maple Leafs needed Auston Matthews most, he was there.
Toronto went down 1-0 early on Monday night, courtesy of a Boston Bruins power-play goal. Though as the Maple Leafs have said, both on Sunday and throughout the regular season, they can bounce back.
Max Domi with the puck on his stick did so 14 seconds after Boston opened the scoring. Along with the assist going to Matthews, his first point in the 2024 postseason.
After Boston scored late in the first period, John Tavares would be the next Maple Leafs player to help drive the team forward. Again, after Toronto was pushed to rally back, they answered the bell.
And, once more, Matthews is involved in the play.
After being held pointless in the first game of the series, Toronto's top goal scorer would have points in back-to-back periods, both being primary assists. It's the first time since Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning last season that Matthews had two primary assists in a playoff game.
"He's world-class in everything he does. When you see the drive every single day and the passion for the game, and wanting to be such a difference maker night in and night out, and certainly this time of year, having the night like he did was massive for our group," Tavares said of Matthews following Monday's win over the Bruins.
However, that wouldn't be the end of the 26-year-old's massive night for Toronto.
With less than eight minutes remaining in the third period, Domi lobbed the puck from his end like a quarterback. Matthews, the wide receiver on the play, caught the puck — a mere few centimeters away from being knocked down by Charlie McAvoy — and beat Linus Ullmark on the breakaway to put Toronto up by one late.
"I saw Max have it and kind of just a flip pass and Auston grabbed it and went in and scored and that was a big goal for us and the team and something we all needed," Tyler Bertuzzi said post-game, "and we shut them down after."
Just like that Toronto was back in the series. Just like that Matthews planted his foot down as one of the key game-changers in this series.
"Not many guys in the world with those instincts and the hands and finishing ability," Tavares added on Monday. "But the competitive aspect, winning battles, fighting for space, using his body, things he does so truly well and sets the standard for us. A hell of a game by him and just driving our team."
Matthews finished the game with quite the incredible stat line. Two assists, one (massive) goal, eight shots (his second-highest total in a postseason game), 12 shot attempts, per MoneyPuck.com, and nearly 70 percent in the faceoff circle.
It was also the fourth time in his career that Matthews has had three points in a playoff game.
"He's affecting the game positively for us. But to me, just the way he worked, where he competed, he was hard, physical, winning puck battles all over the ice," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said following the game.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRZQkFMvPZs[/embed]
Matthews now improves to 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 52 postseason games, tying him for the most playoff points among current Maple Leafs. Six of his 23 goals have been game-winners, signifying just how much of a game-altering player Matthews can be.
"How I said before playoff, I said this guy is really important for us," Ilya Samsonov added Monday night. "We need he score every game."
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