Matthews’ play in overtime the kind of sequence only the greats can put together
Matthews #Matthews
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Author of the article:
Terry Koshan
Publishing date:
Mar 25, 2021 • 44 minutes ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation 
Senators center Colin White (36) checks Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews (34) in front of goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during second period on Thursday night. Photo by ERROL MCGIHON /Postmeida Network Article content
Five games without a goal for Auston Matthews.
On Thursday night in Ottawa, that wasn’t the point.
The best players in the game make an impact in various ways, and Matthews couldn’t have provided a better example for the Maple Leafs in overtime against the Ottawa Senators.
In the building where he scored four goals in his National Hockey League debut in October 2016, Matthews recorded the most impressive secondary assist we’ve seen in quite some time.
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Matthews intercepted a Senators pass in the neutral zone with his right knee, picked up the puck, swept past Thomas Chabot and got a shot off.
Mitch Marner gathered the puck, fed Justin Holl and the defenceman fired a shot past goalie Anton Forsberg for the winner at 4:42 in a 3-2 Leafs victory.
“Auston makes an elite play by an elite player,” Jason Spezza said. “He has gone to another level. He is strong on draws, he is good in the D zone, he can play against anyone. He’s a complete package.
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“The great players have the sense to be big in the big moments and Auston has that. He makes big plays when we need them. Nice to see him make that play because he plays great hockey for us every night.”
GAME ON
Cameras caught Sens general manager Pierre Dorion throwing a cup in his private box following the Holl goal. Luckily for the frustrated Dorion, the cup appeared to be only half full … After the positive buildup surrounding Jack Campbell (all of it well-placed), we didn’t envision a game in which a couple of gaffes on the part of the goalie would have an influence on the outcome. Yet that’s what happened, as Campbell strayed and was beaten by Alex Formenton in the third, this after a Chris Tierney forecheck on Campbell behind the Leafs net resulted in a Connor Brown goal in the first. Campbell owned both goals in his post-game availability … The point picked up by the Senators will have no bearing on where the Leafs finish. Toronto got its two points and is 16 ahead of Ottawa in the North Division … The Leafs’ 41 shots on goal were a season high … Spezza’s goal gave him 959 NHL points, tying him with Kirk Muller for 101st in league history. In 100th is Henrik Zetterberg with 960 … Referee Brad Meier initially called off Ilya Mikheyev’s goal. Meier didn’t have a clear view, and if he did, he would have seen that the puck went off Mikheyev’s upper body (with no deliberate re-direction) and into the net. Good for Mikheyev to get a fortunate bounce after all of the great chances he hasn’t cashed in.
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LOOSE LEAFS
The cheering you heard from the Leafs’ front office was in response to reports that the Canadian government is going to adjust its quarantine rules for players acquired from U.S.-based clubs. Players will have to quarantine for seven days, down from the current 14 days. If Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has not made a trade until the hours before the deadline on April 12, that option should be a little more palatable. Dubas said last week that making moves earlier might be the best way to go. Now, he shouldn’t have to pull the trigger as quickly … Earlier this week, Los Angeles Kings goalie coach Bill Ranford told the Sun’s Steve Simmons that Campbell’s maturing came from the goalie himself. Campbell, acquired from Los Angeles in February 2020, tossed a compliment back at Ranford. “He allowed me to grow up and that’s the biggest thing, is that I’m confident enough now to know what I need to work on, what I’m doing well, and not be too hard on myself,” Campbell said. “Some of the details he ingrained in my game are still there and it was invaluable how much he helped me.”
tkoshan@postmedia.com
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