Steven Stamkos Breaks the Silence on Fight With Auston Matthews
In Game 3 between the Lightning and the Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews took part in the first fight of his NHL career.
Steven Stamkos didn't really give him a choice. The Bolts' captain jumped on Matthews, and he was forced to participate.
This was a good strategic move from Stamkos, as Matthews was sent to the penalty box for five minutes.
After the game, Steven Stamkos commented on the fight.
Steven Stamkos Breaks the Silence on Fight With Auston Matthews
In his post-game comments, Stamkos spoke about his fight following the massive hit on Brayden Point by Morgan Rielly.
It's playoff hockey; that's just the way it is. We had a huge kill there, and I thought we gained some momentum off that, played a really good third period; it just didn't work out..."
Steven Stamkos' response after the hit on Point is normal, and as he mentioned it, the Leafs would have done the same thing if the Bolts sent one of their best players flying into the boards.
This kind of play, especially coming from the captain, has a huge impact on the rest of the team. Stamkos is one of the best leaders in the NHL, and he proved it again.
Not because he fought, but because of the impact on the locker room. Every player competed harder after this, and this is what matters when you're a captain in the NHL.
As seen on Maple Leafs Daily -
Stamkos explains his decision to attack Auston Matthews in Game 3
| POLL | ||
Who would you rather have on your team? | ||
| Matthews | 322 | 82.8 % |
| Stamkos | 67 | 17.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
