For only the second time in his career, Auston Matthews has started a season with a three-game point drought and hasn't gone this long without a point in regular season play since he was held off the scoresheet in three consecutive games last November. Per usual, Matthews hit the ice ahead of Monday's practice to do some extra work.
"It's nice to get the first one to get going sometimes," the 27-year-old centre said. "But you take what you get and what the game gives you sometimes."
Matthews, who was nominated for the Selke Trophy last season, is plus-two and has blocked four shots, which is tied for the team lead among forwards. so it's not like the top line isn't producing. Still, this is an unusually quiet start for one of the most consistent scorers in the game. In fact, Matthews hasn't gone this long without a point in regular season play since he was held off the scoresheet in three consecutive games last November.
If anything wearing the 'C' is inspiring Matthews, who received a big cheer when he was introduced as captain for the first time at Saturday's home opener. "Just go back to the basics a little bit and shoot the puck a little bit more," Ekman-Larsson advised. "He was always one of those guys that could really sift that puck through and get it through all the time," Berube said."We like that he's looking to shoot a lot.
"He's extremely skilled," observed Matthews."I really like his game. He's hard on the puck defensively as well. I didn't realize how much bite he plays with on the defensive side of the puck until seeing him here."After the Penguins converted on an early power play on Saturday, Matthews and Marner became the top forward unit on Toronto's penalty kill.
The Leafs have experimented with Matthews on the penalty kill in recent years, but he's never had a consistent role. Last year, Matthews averaged 43 seconds of shorthanded ice time a game, which was eighth among the team's forwards. This year he's sixth at close to two minutes a game and trending up.
Liljegren struggled during training camp with Berube calling on the 25-year-old righty to simplify his game and play heavier. Liljegren isn't sure why he got off to a slow start. Liljegren signed a two-year, $6-million extension in the summer and if he isn't a regular contributor then the cap-strapped Leafs may deem him too expense to keep around in a depth role. With Liljegren on the outside looking in to start the season, trade speculation swirled around the Swede.
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