For Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs as they prepare for game five in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, there’s lots to discuss. In the last, well, it’s been a while now, but no one can argue you hear more about the Boston Bruins than Auston Matthews. Is it fair? Of course, it is. Matthews is possibly the greatest goal scorer ever and plays in the mecca of hockey. Heck, Wayne Gretzky played in frigid cold Northern Alberta and he was all you heard about in the 80s. The point is that you need to embrace the aura, the moment, the game. As for game five tonight, Matthews skated at the team’s optional session for only about five minutes before leaving. He is a gametime decision at this point.
Auston Matthews was on the ice for 5 minutes this morning. @MapleLeafs
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 30, 2024
Will Auston Matthews Be a Difference Maker in Game Five Leafs and Bruins
Auston Matthews goal-scoring greatness is hard to quantify but we will go with simple is better. It’s hard to believe that the man who’s chasing the all-time goal-scoring record, Alex Ovechkin, only hit 60 once. However, Auston Matthews flexes his strength when you compare shooting percentages, Matthews is at 16.2 while Ovechkin 12.9 for their careers. Also, let’s not forget some shortened seasons Matthews endured that hurt his top line, but not his GPG numbers. Through Matthews’ eight-year NHL career thus far, if you averaged it out over an 82-game schedule he would have 54 goals and 41 assists. Meanwhile, Ovechkin could only muster up 49 goals and 39 assists. The point we are getting at for the series against the Bruins is to use your strengths.
How the Leafs Take down the Bruins in Bean-Town
If Auston Matthews is shooting, then he is scoring, and that increases the Leafs likelihood of coming back to win three in a row. The Bruins are beatable, but you need to attack their weaknesses, and that is high-end skill. Yes, they do have that too, with David Pastrnak or Jeremy Swayman. In contrast, if you put one-to-one matches with a lot of each team’s top-ten players, the Leafs get the check box. So, use it.
One strategy to apply is to load up your top lines. Probably not early in periods, but through those long stretches mid-way through the first and second periods, run two, maybe three lines, and don’t let up. This is the strategy to beat the Bruins, and with William Nylander missing games, and now possibly Matthews as well, it is no wonder the Leafs have struggled to generate offence, in particular against Swayman.
Joseph Woll is not on the ice for Leafs skate, which suggests he’s starting tonight @TSN_Edge
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 30, 2024
What About in Net
The other big storyline ahead of game five for the Leafs down 3-1 to the Bruins, is in the Leafs net. Who gets the start? Despite a career 1-2 record in the post-season, Joseph Woll has played well when given an opportunity. His only credited playoff win was last year when he stopped 24 of 25 shots as the Leafs beat the Florida Panthers. That score was 2-1, and it made the series 3-1 for the Panthers in last year’s playoffs. Meanwhile, the Leafs number-one goaltender was demoted to the AHL in January. In 20 career playoff starts, he carries a 6-13 record. Good teams in the playoffs, don’t have holes in key areas. Goaltending is so incredibly vital to a team’s playoff outcome. Not having a better gameplan, really is a knock against management.
In any sense, these are the big storylines as the Bruins lead 3-1. Will Joseph Woll get the call in net for the Leafs for game five? Additionally, will Matthews draw in, and if so, will he be utilized to optimize his performance? Stay tuned, because it could be a long summer for the players at the range finding their game, and a short one for their head coach, who could very well be looking for something to do.
Main photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
