Entering his third-career playoff series, Auston Matthews is talking about feeling more physically and mentally “free” leading in to another best-of-seven with the NHLBruins. (reporterchris)
On the visiting bench, Mike Babcock is expecting to line match a little less fervently than he did in the past. He believes great teams are built through the middle and doesn’t have nearly as many players to shelter with Tavares, Matthews and Nazem Kadri as his top three centres.
That could lead to better flow, especially if the Leafs manage to get ahead. It would allow Babcock to roll out his groups one after the other, rather than constantly having players jump off and on in search of a specific look. “On the road sometimes you can get in your own way,” said Babcock. “The guy whose leading is always in charge. So if you’re chasing the game, it’s harder. The other guy gets to do whatever he wants. If you’re ahead in the game, you get to do what you want, because he’s got to get certain people on the ice.”
The biggest difference in Matthews 12 months on may well be his health. He only got nine regular-season games under his belt after returning from a separated shoulder before last year’s playoffs and didn’t have the kind of explosiveness he’d normally like in his skating stride. Now, not only is he’s coming off a dominant stretch of possession since the start of March , but he better understands the value of patience in the post-season.
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