The key to Matthews’ rise has been his acceleration and explosiveness. Everyone is waiting for Matthews to bust out his patented curl-and-drag release, and since January he has been shooting with increased velocity. It’s Matthews’ increased speed that has really stood out over the past month, with him reaching high-danger areas with routine frequency.
“It impacts the rest of the group and, in my opinion, elevates everyone’s play,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Matthews on Jan. 19. “He’s been excellent for quite some time and drives the game on for us. I think our team really feeds off that as well.”
McMann’s elite straight-line speed doesn’t always show up in the stats and it has allowed Matthews to get some more juice out of the rush. The 29-year-old winger has recorded the fourth-fastest skate speed of any NHL player this season via NHL Edge and talked about how he can compliment Matthews’ game.
“I don’t know about explosions, but his lateral movement is definitely more noticeable,” Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann said of Matthews to The Leafs Nation on Jan. 19. “The way he shoots, but when he gets passes, how he sets himself up in plays, goes through the middle. He goes east to west a lot more and he’s having success with it. I think I play a little more straight, so it’s good to have guys who can make plays.” A little bit more cerebral and they slow the game down a little bit and I try to pick up the pace and push it a little bit more.
“I think Auston likes to play center. My job is to transfer the puck, and I like to have the puck in the neutral zone, so it’s fun,” Maple Leafs forward Max Domi said on Jan. 19.
Matthews isn’t always known for his blazing speed, but he can punish opponents when caught in a slip. Below is an example from a January 19 game against the Minnesota Wild, where Domi sends Matthews in all alone on a quick turnover.
The captain makes them pay!!! 🎥: Amazon Prime | NHL
“I think he’s skating well right now,” Maple Leafs forward Nicolas Roy told The Leafs Nation on Jan. 23 after the morning skate. “It’s a long season, so you’re always going to have ups and downs. Times when you feel better, times when it’s a little bit harder, but he’s obviously playing really well at the moment. He’s one of those guys who, when he feels it, is clearly one of the best players in the league, it’s fun to watch.”
It’s been a turbulent start to the calendar year, but Matthews’ scoring and skating have been the only constants for the Maple Leafs. It will take a huge run from Matthews for the Maple Leafs to make the playoffs for the tenth straight season. Matthews’ lateral movement and explosiveness will be crucial for a Maple Leafs team trying to sneak into the dance given the 10.1 percent chance of making the playoffs right now.
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