'That's A Major Distraction': Auston Matthews Gets 69th Goal as Sheldon Keefe Admits Star Player Became Focal Point in Maple Leafs OT Loss to Red Wings
The Red Wings were more desperate for the points and the Leafs were a bit slow out of the gate.
Sheldon Keefe badly wanted Auston Matthews to get to 70 goals in the Toronto Maple Leafs' final home game of the regular season, but it didn't happen as they club fell 5-4 in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Entering the game with 68 goals this season, Matthews scored his 69th on the power play during the second period to cut Detroit's lead from 4-2 to 4-3.
With one goal away from 70, the entire building had a collective gasp every time Matthews touched the puck or came close to getting to that number.
At the end of the game, Keefe was clearly not pleased with his team's lack of urgency in parts of the first period that saw his club trail 4-1 after the first period.
"That's a major distraction. It doesn't help us, what we're trying to accomplish on the ice. But it's exciting," Keefe said of Matthews' pursuit of 70. "I get it. And it's-- especially when he gets to 69, you can see it. It's really-- it's growing, anticipating.
"And now you're feeding it. I'm feeding it. I want it to happen. But I wanted it for the fans. But I'm glad the game's over. Let's move on."
After missing out on the extra point the Leafs were officially eliminated from any chance at moving up to second place in the Atlantic Division and will start their 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the road against either the Florida Panthers or Boston Bruins.
But with two games remaining on the road, Keefe was asked how he'd manage Matthews and the pursuit of 70 goals.
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"Well, I don't think these fans are going to travel us on the road. But we'll make the decision that we think is best for the team," Keefe said. "We got guys dropping right now. We're going to have to dress 18 skaters. So we got some guys that will not be available for us. So that in itself is going to be a factor. And the salary cap is what it is. We can only have so many guys. So there are lots of things to sort out here in the next little bit."
Although they won't be home games, Leafs fans typically travel well, especially to the Florida-based games, so it's hard to see it not be a factor. But to his point on the injuries. Bobby McMann left Saturday's gamer after one period with a lower-body injury and they don't know the severity of it yet. Defenseman Jake McCabe didn't return after taking a puck to the face but appears to be okay except for some swelling around his eye.
Matthews became the first player since Mario Lemieux to score 69 goals in a single season. The Hall-of-Famer did it during the 1995-96 season.
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