This week`s “Friday Four” explores some notable player narratives from around the NHL. The discussion includes:
- Auston Matthews’ expanding playmaking skills
- The impact of Kaprizov`s presence on the Wild
- Kuzmenko`s influence as a difference-maker for the Kings
- Tkachuk showing peak performance without any rust
Focusing on **Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs**:
Typically, if Auston Matthews had scored only a single goal in the first three games of a playoff series, it would signal significant trouble for the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the Leafs are currently positioned favorably, on the verge of advancing to the second round, thanks in part to a recent overtime victory. This reflects a shift in the Toronto team`s dynamic this season, even with a familiar core group that has faced past playoff disappointments. Matthews hasn`t been scoring at his usual incredibly high rate, but he has successfully modified his playing style, contributing to the team`s success in a different way – through wins.
This season has been somewhat mysterious for Matthews, marked by questions about his injury and its severity, his effectiveness playing through it, unconventional treatments, future international play, and whether the Leafs can succeed without his peak scoring ability.
While some questions remain, we`ve seen answers to others. The most immediate is whether the Leafs can make a deep playoff push with Matthews not performing as the goal-scoring powerhouse he usually is. Following a 2023-24 season where he nearly reached 70 goals, Matthews finished this year with a career-low 33 goals. At times, his shot has lacked its typical power, likely affected by the injury he`s been managing.
Despite this, Matthews has certainly not been ineffective. The 27-year-old has subtly adjusted and developed his game, focusing more on setting up teammates and becoming a facilitator. Even playing only 67 games due to injury this season, Matthews registered 45 assists, just shy of his career high. Of these, 27 were primary assists, also close to his personal best of 29, despite missing considerable time. Notably, since January 1st, only Nikita Kucherov and David Pastrnak have accumulated more points than Matthews, as he recorded 33 of his 45 assists during that period.
Matthews hasn`t traditionally been recognized as an elite playmaker, but whether driven by the necessities of playing injured or the emergence of Matthew Knies as a strong scoring winger, he has added skilled passing to his abilities. This was clearly demonstrated late in the season during a significant overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game that helped set the Leafs on course for a division title. In that game, Matthews delivered a beautiful setup pass to Knies, leading to the game-winning goal.
Tristan Blackwood