Toronto wins with Auston Matthews in top form

TORONTO — Expectations often have a way of distorting reality and the idea that Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews was having a sub-standard year, relative to the stratospheric standard he’s set for himself, seemed downright foolish.

If you needed a reminder, Matthews showed why he’s the most explosive goal-scorer in the NHL, depositing a brace in rapid succession and you had to feel bad for those stuck in the beer line coming out of the first intermission. The Winnipeg Jets largely controlled the first period and were it not for Toronto’s Ilya Samsonov submitting his best performance of the early calendar year, this very well could’ve been a different result.

Matthews exemplified a renewed sense of urgency, dipping around the Jets’ defence with some nifty moves, before roofing it past Winnipeg’s star goalie Connor Hellebuyck Eight seconds were left in the second frame. After Matthews’ second goal, three minutes later, the Maple Leafs had no other options. Mitch Marner, who added a stunning insurance marker on the penalty killing, was the next to record his second goal. Mark Giordano Toronto had an empty net and Toronto breezed to a 4-1 victory.

Here’s what you need to know from Thursday’s Maple Leafs-Jets game:

Three stars

1. Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs

Matthews scored eight seconds into the second quarter, changing the game’s imprint. This was a change from the first period when his line was the only one that produced for the Maple Leafs. Matthews is a player who has consistently played the most solid defensive hockey his career, but has not performed well in the face of superior stats.

“I loved how Auston went out and took charge of the game in the second period,” Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said post-game.

With nine scoring opportunities at 5-on-5, he dominated Thursday., His faceoffs were won at 50% and he posted three shot blocks We narrowly missed a chance to record a natural triple hat trick. Michael Bunting Set him up with a great meal.

Winnipeg almost scored a second goal just seven minutes into third period. Matthews, however, got on his knees and flushed the danger. Matthews, the Hart Trophy winner, put in a great performance. added to the All-Star roster post-game.

2. Ilya Samsonov, Maple Leafs

Marner and Bunting could’ve easily found themselves among the three stars but with some consternation about the Maple Leafs’ goaltending regressing, Samsonov stepped up to the plate and kept his team in the contest during the first period. He responded to every test he faced and though Toronto was proficient offensively from the minute Matthews roofed the opening goal, it wasn’t a clean defensive performance. In the second period, Samsonov was given a short ovation by the Scotiabank Arena crowd and he well deserved it. In the third period, he almost single-handedly destroyed a 5-on-3. Kyle Connor The Jets were eventually accepted onto the board.

It wasn’t clear until the end of the morning skate whether Samsonov or Matt Murray The start would be Thursday. With 37 saves, the 25 year-old definitely earned it. He’s now 12-0-1 at Scotiabank Arena this season.

3. William Nylander, Maple Leafs

Nylander was the most dominant player in the first period. He, along with Matthews, Bunting and Bunting, helped to revive the Maple Leafs’ fortunes after a slow start. At this speed, he is a walking scoring opportunity and was zipping about the ice making it almost impossible for Matthews to be in top form for the Jets. Nylander has had games with higher underlying numbers. We considered Marner or Bunting, but we decided to go with Nylander because of his off-puck movement and constant pace.

Scheifele won’t soon forget the night. He got walked by Matthews during the game’s opening goal, then committed the turnover that directly led to Marner’s insurance marker. Scheifele otherwise wasn’t horrible, but if you make two mistakes that immediately lead to goals at critical junctures of the contest, this becomes an easy choice.

Play the game:

We’ve discussed this goal in great detail already, given that it was the turning point but we haven’t discussed the aesthetics and my God, it was gorgeous. Morgan Rielly banks a pass off the boards, Bunting flicks it onto Matthews’ stick and the rest is pure magic.

Matthews transformed Scheifele in a pylon and Nylander was in an excellent position to accept the pass. Brenden Dillon had no chance but to block off the potential lane, allowing Toronto’s superstar to roof it home. It was the best play of the night during one of Matthews’ best games of the season.

Here’s a slow-motion angle, too.

The game is not played correctly:

This can be interpreted in many ways. Marner did a great read to seal the wall and stole the puck. He then scored a stunning goal of his own. But that also doesn’t excuse the terrible route Scheifele took and after losing the puck, he took a circuitous loop, allowing Marner to take full advantage of the lack of urgency and deposit a laser for the shorthanded marker. This play, in many respects, encapsulates Scheifele’s forgettable evening.

Stat of the night

Don’t blink when the Maple Leafs are playing. This is an offensive juggernaut capable of scoring at a moment’s notice some fans may have missed one of the best plays of the game.

Going viral:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Santiago Espinal, Chris Bassitt and Kevin Kiermaier Many Toronto Blue Jays fans showed their support by showing up at the Maple Leafs’ home to show their support. Vladdy was the star of the show and received a standing ovation from the crowd. He seemed thrilled to be supporting his neighbors on Thursday night.

Quote of the day

Keefe’s observations on Matthews’ dominant performance:

“I noticed the puck hit the mesh…obviously, it’s probably the game that looks closest to him last year in terms of the way the puck went in the net.”

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