As the MapleLeafs spend three days on the beach, a welcome respite from their chilly homestand, lukefoxjukebox filled his notebook ahead of Sunday’s proverbial four-point tilt versus the FlaPanthers. Here are seven things you should know ⤵️
spend three days on the beach, a welcome respite from their chilly homestand, we filled our notebook ahead of Sunday’s proverbial four-point tilt versus the Florida Panthers. Here are seven things you should know.Auston MatthewsMatthews enters Sunday’s match on a heck of a heater. He’s posted seven goals and 11 points during his current six-game point streak and has 20 points in his past 11.
Coach Sheldon Keefe granted Matthews a career-high ice time of 25:41 during Wednesday’s shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and Matthews has skated a minimum of 20:43 in seven of the past eight games. “Good players want to get on the ice, and it gives him a chance to really establish himself in the game,” Keefe explained. “That’s been important to me, to get those on the ice early, get them feeling it, give them a chance to put our team in a good spot.
“He’s responded well to having more minutes, but really that’s come off of the fact that he’s just working consistently and we haven’t seen any dips in his effort or his habits. So that’s been the nice thing.” What’s interesting to me is that Matthews said the extra ice time hasn’t been as taxing because of the puck-possession style of attack the Leafs now employ under Keefe.Under former coach Mike Babcock, the club skated in fast, straight lines. Now, there is more east-west action, as the group advances the puck together and attempts to gain the zone with puck on tape.
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