Even if Auston Matthews wins, the Maple Leafs will be shot

Auston Matthews led a team to victory. Toronto Maple Leafs fans love the sound of that phrase — except under these circumstances, when their superstar center and Team USA broke Team Canada’s hearts with a 2-1 overtime win in the gold medal at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

Matthews, who has taken his fair share of criticism over the past decade for the Maple Leafs’ playoff shortcomings — some of it deserved — ultimately found himself on the winning side of a big game. And his compatriots did not want to let this go unnoticed in Toronto.

Jack Hughes, the golden goal scorer, interrupted a question for Matthews during a post-match interview to make sure everyone heard it loud and clear.

said Hughes:

“I don’t think it matters what anyone says right now: Auston Matthews is a winner. Auston Matthews is an Olympic gold medalist. He’s a winner,”

Then it was brother Quinn Hughes’ turn:

“Yes, that’s what the Toronto media should be talking about. Auston Matthews led us to a championship,”

Although he was relatively quiet offensively in Sunday’s gold medal game, the 28-year-old Matthews had a strong two-way game to cap a productive tournament in which he scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in six games.

First, it was former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner who scored a stunning overtime winner in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic, prompting Brandon Hagel and Mark Stone to bombard the Toronto market and media. Now it’s the Hughes brothers doing the same after Matthews helped win Olympic gold.

The Maple Leafs and their fans have to ask themselves: Why couldn’t they do that for us?

It’s a fair question. A sample size of nine years was more than enough, if not too much, to prove they were winners, but we know this never came to fruition.

Playing in Toronto undoubtedly comes with enormous pressure. But that also applies to representing your country on the biggest stage. Maybe Matthews shaking off the narrative that he can’t win will free him and translate back to the NHL – because the Maple Leafs are relying on him now more than ever.

Next: Tkachuk-McDavid photo captures three years of elation and heartbreak