Brodie's first goal in 110 games was intended for Matthews, who was parked in front of the net.
TAMPA, Fla. — If it were any other circumstance or any other game, TJ Brodie would have been relieved.
Instead, he wishes his goal at 14:02 of the second period that cut the Tampa Bay Lightning lead from 6-1 to 6-2 would have gone to Auston Matthews.
"One hundred percent," Brodie said when asked if he was aiming for Matthews' stick. "You know, it would have been nice to see him get 70 tonight. Unfortunately, the post got in the way."
Brodie was one of several Maple Leafs teammates openly admitting they were doing what they could to try and get Matthews the puck as often as he could. Sitting at 69 goals, the star came up just short in his team's bid to finish the season with 70 in a 6-4 loss on Wednesday.
Brodie, was one of several defensemen who played in the meaningless game as Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Joel Edmundson all sat out. The latter-mentioned three are essentially locks to be in the Game 1 lineup when the Leafs visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday.
Brodie's status isn't as clear.
Previously a mainstay on the blueline, the 33-year-old was a healthy scratch for the first time as a Leaf on Mar. 20, a decision Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keede made hoping the defenseman could "clear his head". Injuries on the back end forced Brodie to return after just a couple of games and he has played much better since his benching.
Other defenseman on the bubble like Brodie include newcomer Simon Benoit and Timothy Liljegren. With Ilya Lyubuskin regularly playing alongside Rielly, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe has a difficult decision to make in that spot.
In the final year of a four-year, $20 million contract, Brodie has a goal and 25 assists in 78 games this season.
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