After his first hat trick in nearly two years, and a red-hot string of games, the big question around Leaf Land as we get into the new year is, ‘Is Auston Matthews all the way back?’ And of course, the other question is, if so, ‘Where has he been?!’
Matthews’ three goals, including the game-winner, in a thrilling 6-5 comeback win for the Leafs over the struggling Winnipeg Jets on New Year’s Night, topped off the kind of superstar run that folks around Toronto had gotten used to in his first eight years in the NHL.
In three games (less a period) since coming back from the holiday break (with one game off in between for a blocked shot injury), Matthews now has four goals and four assists for eight points with a whopping 19 shots on goal. He also has three power play points in a newly-constructed and, dare we say, ‘well-oiled’ special teams unit.
He once again has looked like the guy he’d always been—forechecking, lifting sticks and going to the net. And, of course, a return of “the shot” (and many of them).
Where has this Auston Matthews been?
But again, where was all that for his first 31 games of this season? And even, to a large extent, for most of last season as well?
“We didn’t see the shot, we didn’t see the explosiveness, we didn’t see the high level of compete. We didn’t see the high level of finish on the power play,” said insider Darren Dreger on TSN’s Overdrive show.
“What flipped the switch for the Leafs captain?”
That could be a subject of debate around Toronto. But hey, it’s a New Year. New promise and a fresh start, right? Most likely, Leafs Nation will just be soaking in a return to the vintage performances and hope that they continue. If this team is to make a true charge for the playoffs, they will need THIS Auston Matthews. As he goes, so go the Leafs.
“He does lead by example,” added Dreger.
Head coach Craig Berube could feel this kind of game coming on for Matthews, just hours before the New Year’s Night fireworks.
He’s our captain. Really like the way he’s been playing lately. Driving the play and getting good opportunities and just playing with a lot of pace and determination.
Just taking pucks to the middle of the ice more, and attacking. Taking people 1-on-1 and winning all those battles and just all that, and just his attack mentality around the net. He looks like he’s ripping the puck a little bit, with a bit more ‘oomph’ on the shot.
Matthews just one goal away from franchise record
Suddenly, Matthews is back on a 43-goal pace, after the 14th hat trick of his career. He is only two years removed from a team-record 69-goal season.
On a macro level, he’s also now just one goal short of Mats Sundin as the all-time Maple Leafs franchise goal-scoring king. Matthews has 419 goals in his 9 1/2 seasons, while Sundin recorded 420 in his legendary 13 years in Toronto.
The celebrations when he passes that mark can only build on the good vibes being established by the Leafs and their captain as 2026 gets underway.
