FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Auston Matthews was at the rink but was the only Toronto Maple Leaf to skip Sunday’s morning skate.
The star centre also missed a practice in Round 1, and it’s no secret he has been managing an undisclosed upper-body ailment.
The two-time 60-goal sniper scored a career-low 33 goals this season and only has two through nine playoff games.
“He’s our captain. He’s our leader, and he’s been an incredible player for us,” durable defenceman Chris Tanev said. “I expect him to be the same tonight. He’s gonna show up and be great for us.”
Matthews is being leaned on heavily in this series versus the physical Florida Panthers, averaging 23:12 in ice time and flourishing in the faceoff circle (57 per cent). He’s chipped in three assists, but his greatest weapon is MIA.
Or, at the very least, compromised.
A career 15.8 per cent shooter, Matthews is converting on just 6.3 per cent of his attempts in these playoffs. More concerning: He leads all playoff skaters with 20 missed nets.
“I’m not too worried about him,” linemate Matthew Knies says. “He’s doing the right things. He’s getting looks.”
Berube says he isn’t bothered either.
“I mean, it is what it is. Like, yeah, he needs to hit the net. He’s trying to hit the net. He’s not trying to miss the net. He’s trying to hit the net,” the coach says. “So, I’m not going to elaborate on that too much.”
Matthews is seeing a little more Anton Lundell than Aleksander Barkov since the series shifted south and Panthers coach Paul Maurice gets last change. (Maurice, too, is seeking more production from his big two-way guns, Barkov and Sam Reinhart.)
To his credit, Matthews is finding other ways to make his impact. His defensive game has been fantastic. His 13 blocked shots rate him among the top forwards in that category, he’s making smart plays on the PK, and Toronto has a 6-3 edge when Matthews is on the ice at even strength.
“He’s playing all over the ice extremely well,” Max Pacioretty says. “For us in that room, it’s not about looking at the stat sheet and the goal column. It’s what you do all over the ice, and doing the little things to help the team win. And eventually all those numbers sort itself out.”
Florida is certainly not banking on Matthews’ drought to continue.
“He’s got the puck on his stick, I’m not feeling very good about it behind the bench,” Maurice says.
Embellishment, you say?
Evan Rodrigues met with reporters for the first time since being dinged for the wildest embellishment penalty in history.
The Panthers forward was pasted into the glass from behind by Scott Laughton in Game 2 and needed to go to the dressing room for attention.
Unbeknownst to Rodrigues, he was serving a minor while in the room.
“I didn’t find out until after the game,” Rodrigues said. “I didn’t have a clue. I figured there was coincidental roughings. I couldn’t believe it. My brother texted me, and I was shocked.”
We all were, Evan. We all were.
Sluggish finish to Game 3
Brad Marchand ended the Maple Leafs’ longest shift of Friday night with an overtime dagger.
Should the line of William Nylander, John Tavares, and Pontus Holmberg have changed before getting hemmed in and torched?
“They didn’t have an opportunity to really get off on that situation,” Berube says. “We got caught out there and kinda got standing around a little bit. So, we got to dig in more in that situation. That’s the bottom line.”
Marchand noticed the forwards sagging and collapsing and knew they were vulnerable.
“Yeah, I was pretty tired. That’s about it,” explained Nylander, who had no legs at the end of his 102-second shift. “They scored.”
One-Timers: Staying on the beach, the Maple Leafs took full advantage of Saturday’s rest day and didn’t set foot in a rink. “Maybe that comes with the older age, but I definitely feel a difference when you go out in the sun, maybe hop in the ocean,” Pacioretty says. “I definitely see a benefit in that.”… Brad Marchand, the oldest player in the series at 37, leads the Panthers in goals (two), points (four), and plus/minus (+3) through three games…. Bobby McMann hasn’t scored in 20 games. “He’s going to get his looks from his speed and his shot, but he needs to get around the paint more,” Berube says…. Matt Murray was sick for Game 3 but will back up Joseph Woll in Game 4.
Maple Leafs projected Game 4 lineup vs. Florida Panthers:
Knies – Matthews – MarnerPacioretty – Tavares – NylanderMcMann – Domi – HolmbergLorentz – Laughton – Järnkrok
Rielly – CarloMcCabe – TanevBenoit – Ekman-Larsson
Woll startsMurray
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