During the Tampa Bay Lightning’s comprehensive Game-Four win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, I make mental notes of the multiple occasions when Auston Matthews appears disengaged.
In a special teams-driven game that ends 7-3 in TBL’s favor, Matthews only plays 9:37 at 5v5 and is handily out-shot. He hardly handles the puck and finds himself in no-man’s land, waiting instead of provoking.
Leading up to the loss, Matthews hasn’t performed to his usual standards. TOR has actually been out-played by TBL with the reigning Rocket Richard trophy winner on the ice through four playoff games.
Much of Matthews’ struggles can be attributed to matchups. Owning last change in Games Three and Four, TBL systematically deploys Killorn-Point-Cirelli and Hedman-Cernak against TOR34, TOR16 Mitch Marner and their linemate du jour.
For Toronto’s stars, this represents a big problem.
Alex Killorn is on the back half of his career, but the winger plays with an underrated mean streak and can still get off the wall and bull to the front of the net.
Anthony Cirelli has the reach and straight-line speed to shut down almost anybody 1v1. He’s also skilled enough to force a turnover, lead a counter-attack and score off the rush.
Brayden Point may be the most dynamic center still playing in the Eastern Conference. Out west, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon may be more incisive in transition, but not by much.
Before Matthews gets to worry about how to engineer a scoring play, then, first he has to work hard just not to get scored on by Tampa’s super shutdown line.
Like many other elite offensive players, Matthews is at his best when he is able to get the puck frequently and on the move.
With Killorn-Point-Cirelli cycling in the Leafs’ zone, TOR34 grows passive and winds up standing in front of his net instead of sprinting to force turnovers. He becomes a lesser player.
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