Toronto Maple Leafs: Matthews Is Back (Probably)
By James Tanner
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on a five game winning streak.
Tonight, it’s a classic matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens. The game could be clouded, however, by the absence of each team’s premier player: Auston Matthews and Carey Price.
It seems near certain that Price will miss the game, and there’s a good chance the Leafs will have Matthews back, since he practiced yesterday and his media quotes sounded like the words of a guy returning from injury. (Unless I’m just hearing what I want to hear, which is very possible).
#Leafs lines at practice:
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) November 17, 2017
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Komarov
van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner
Martin-Moore-Brown
Sosh, Leivo
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Borgman-Carrick
Polak
If Matthews is practicing, he’s playing. And not a moment too soon. As is the wont of people everywhere, 99% of analysis is results-based because it doesn’t rock the boat and goes down smooth like so much BS.
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That is why the Leafs are on a 5-0 and playing great. That is why Nylander went 11 games without a goal and was “struggling without Matthews.” Or at least that’s the case for anyone too lazy too dig deeper or pay attention.
Toronto Maple Leafs Lucky Win Streak
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on one of the flukiest winning streaks imaginable. They’ve played awfully over the last few games without their best player, and because of their goalie they’ve managed to hide this pesky fact.
Auston Matthews one of six skaters at an optional morning skate. Word in about 15 minutes from Mike Babcock on whether he returns tonight in Montreal or misses fifth straight game.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) November 18, 2017
As for Nylander, he’s second in the NHL for on-ice scoring chances behind only McDavid – the guy is playing out of his mind, but until the other night in OT couldn’t buy a goal.
Regardless, with Matthews back the Leafs will once again be icing one of the most ridiculous rosters of the salary cap era. Connor Brown on the fourth line? Do you mean the guy who is statistically one of the best 5v5 goal scorers in the NHL? Yup!
It’s funny how fast we get spoiled. Two years ago we were expecting to slog through four or five seasons of crap just finally have a good team. Now we have JVR on the third line, Brown on the fourth and no way to even get Kapanen – on of the fastest players in the NHL – into the lineup.
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And Josh Leivo? You can sign him, but where the hell do you play him?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the kind of problems other teams wish they had. And if Matthews is healthy and ready to go, tonight’s game should be awesome.