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We haven’t checked, however we are able to’t think about that Auston Matthews has bonuses in his hefty contract for lacking the web.
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If he did, the Maple Leafs captain could be cashing in additional than he already is.
Matthews has been lauded by his Leafs teammates for making contributions that may not be evident on the scoresheet, and the very fact of the matter is that this: Regardless of what some may insist, the Leafs are in a great spot within the second spherical of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, up 2-1 within the best-of-seven sequence towards the Florida Panthers heading into Sport 4 on Sunday night time in Dawn.
The Leafs have managed to earn a sequence lead towards the defending Cup champions and not using a objective from Matthews, who, as we all know, has change into an knowledgeable at scoring in the course of the common season.
Via playoff video games on Friday, Matthews was second within the NHL in photographs on objective with 32, trailing solely Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, who had 39 because the Avs misplaced within the first spherical towards the Dallas Stars.
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Matthews leads in a class that he would fairly not. His 20 missed photographs had been probably the most within the playoffs by means of Friday. The presence of Matthews, who has three assists within the sequence, within the offensive zone isn’t in query.
The quantity that pops extra is 2. That’s what number of objectives Matthews has in 9 playoff video games this spring.
“Pay attention, he is a superb scorer,” Leafs coach Craig Berube informed media in Florida on Saturday. “I’m not too anxious about it. Yeah, he must hit the web. He’s attempting to hit the web. He’s not attempting to overlook the web. I’m not going to actually elaborate on that.”
Concerning Matthews, veteran Max Pacorietty most likely spoke for almost all of his Leafs teammates on Saturday.
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“He’s enjoying all around the ice extraordinarily nicely and as a teammate, that’s what you discover in the beginning,” Pacorietty mentioned. “It would come. He’s creating quite a lot of probabilities.
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“For us, it’s not about wanting on the stats sheet and the objective column, it’s what you do all around the ice and doing the little issues to assist the crew win. Ultimately, all these numbers appear to type themselves out.”
Panthers coach Paul Maurice, upon being requested about Matthews, introduced one among his forwards, Sam Reinhart, into the equation. Reinhart has three objectives in eight playoff video games.
“I really feel the identical means I really feel about Reinhart,” Maurice mentioned. “Whether or not the man scores or not, typically it’s both an excellent save or a little bit little bit of a block or a little bit of a deflection. Their recreation can nearly be similar to the nights they’re scoring.
“I might say that’s completely different than a man on the fourth line, the place typically it goes in for them. Effectively, that’s happenstance.
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“The fellows who rating within the 50s or 60s, they’re getting their seems, they’re getting their photographs, Reinhart has had a bunch he has missed.
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“Auston Matthews, I really feel the identical means after I watch the video. He has the puck on his stick, I’m not feeling excellent about it behind the bench. It doesn’t go, I really feel so much higher about it. It’s reverse feelings with Reinhart.
“They’re enjoying the identical recreation. It’s inevitable for each gamers. They’re each going to attain.”
STOLARZ UPDATE
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz hasn’t began skating but in his restoration from an undisclosed damage, Berube mentioned.
Stolarz “is progressing,” Berube mentioned, with out elaborating.
Stolarz has been out because the halfway level of Sport 1. He took a Reinhart shot off the masks and later was bumped by Sam Bennett.
It’s Joseph Woll’s internet for the foreseeable future.
One large distinction: Woll isn’t as sharp at enjoying the puck on dump-ins as Stolarz. That impacts how the Leafs can deal with the Panthers forecheck.
“If (the Panthers) can get a superb lick on it, they’re going to place it on the glass,” Berube mentioned. “It’s fairly powerful for him to return out and play these. He did get to quite a lot of them. They’re coming laborious. We all know that. He’s going to have to maneuver (the puck) fast, decide fast and transfer it.”
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IT TAKES TWO
Whereas protecting in thoughts that it’s an entire crew recreation which usually ends in success within the post-season, the place would the Leafs be with out Berube and veteran defenceman Chris Tanev?
Berube’s expertise behind an NHL bench is an asset his predecessor, Sheldon Keefe, didn’t must the identical diploma. Tanev is the perfect no-questions-asked, old-school defenceman the Leafs have had in years.
“When (Berube has) gained earlier than (with St. Louis in 2019), that makes it a little bit simpler on staying calm and it’s a very nice impact to trickle down when (gamers) know that’s the case,” Pacioretty mentioned. “You do really feel that sense of calmness in powerful conditions.
“The demanding roles we’ve got by way of once they’re making a push, we’ve got to remain calm but additionally we’ve got to get our foot on the fuel. It feels like an oxymoron, however (Berube) does a very good job of (balancing) that.”
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When Tanev isn’t blocking photographs or making a clear outlet go as a result of he’s positionally sound, he’s most likely absorbing successful. Tanev has been hit 71 occasions within the playoffs — 30 greater than the participant who has taken the second-most hits, defenceman Lian Bichsel of the Dallas Stars.
Tanev was second with 25 blocked photographs. Simon Benoit was main the NHL with 27.
“You see some performs and also you assume after the sport he’s going to be complaining about it, however you don’t hear a phrase from him about it,” Pacioretty mentioned in reference to Tanev. “He simply goes about his enterprise. He’s extraordinarily powerful and he’s keen to sacrifice all the pieces for the crew and that doesn’t go unnoticed in that room.”
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LOOSE LEAFS
Guess who had drawn probably the most penalties within the playoffs by means of Friday? Leafs winger Calle Jarnkrok, who has drawn six minors in any respect strengths. 4 different NHLs had drawn 5, whereas the Leafs’ John Tavares and Simon Benoit had been amongst those that have drawn 4 … Of the Leafs who’ve performed in all 9 video games, solely three — Morgan Rielly, William Nylander and Steven Lorentz — haven’t drawn a penalty … The Leafs didn’t practise on Saturday, and Pacioretty was amongst these wanting ahead to performing some stress-free. “I really feel a distinction if you exit within the solar and possibly hop within the ocean,” Pacioretty mentioned. “I see a profit in that.”
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