'Plays Are Just Dying On Their Sticks': Why the Maple Leafs' Trio of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies is Struggling and What They Can Do to Change
The trio of Matthews, Marner, and Knies has scored six goals and allowed five at five-on-five this season.
Eighteen games into the season and Mitch Marner still hasn't found his usual rhythm.
The 26-year-old is playing with a usual linemate in Auston Matthews, and the two have always had success together. Until they don't anymore.
There are always lull points in the season for any player, whether it's Marner, Matthews, or even someone like Connor McDavid. It's bound to happen. But Marner has 20 points in his first 18 games of the year, the total he had through 18 games last season.
So, what's going on with the 26-year-old's game?
"He's just not executing at the level that you'd expect from Mitch," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said on Saturday morning in Pittsburgh.
"At times, he's had it. I thought, after being challenged after the second period last night, that that line, and Mitch, in particular, had a better third period, showed some positive signs. But no doubt Mitch hasn't found his groove here yet."
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It will take time for Marner to find what Keefe calls his "groove". Both he and Matthews at points during the season go quiet, but it's worth noting, too, that they now have rookie Matthew Knies strapped to their wing.
That's not necessarily a problem, but the rookie continues to wind his way through his first NHL season. Nine points in 18 games is a fine total, though his game might need some consistency.
The entire line of Matthews, Marner, and Knies needs to find consistency together.
"Well, they're not making plays. Plays are just dying on their sticks," Keefe said on Saturday when asked why the line isn't shooting as much.
"However, we're one game removed from them carrying us offensively against Minnesota in Sweden. They scored two five-on-five goals, they were our best line in that game, so I have to be mindful of that and not just overreact to a game such as last night, though it certainly has my attention because it's happening more than I'd like, and not positive enough. But when challenged before, they've responded."
The trio of Matthews, Marner, and Knies has played 84:31 together at five-on-five. They've put up an xGF% of 50.93 throughout that time, according to NaturalStatTrick.com, which isn't bad. Though, a line of that caliber could improve.
Scoring will do that. As will playing with confidence. Those three have played together before, and good things have come from it. I believe the test on Saturday against former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas' Pittsburgh Penguins could write the ship in a new direction.
All it takes is one goal, and everything can change.
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