Why Auston Matthews is Facing an Early Season Scoring Slump for the Leafs
Auston Matthews has been scoreless through three games but the league's greatest goal scorer isn't concerned with stats as long as the Maple Leafs are winning.
Auston Matthews entered this season coming off a historic 69-goal season last year , the most goals scored in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-1996. Scoring a hat-trick in back to back games, Matthews started off blazing hot and never cooled down, earning himself the title of league's greatest goal scorer as well as captaincy of the Maple Leafs.
But so far this season, Matthews hasn't found the back of the net and fans are starting to get concerned if he's regressing or if something isn't right with the Maple Leafs superstar. Matthews however isn't concerned about the goose-egg, enjoying the fact the team is winning as opposed to adding to his already legendary career.
"Yeah, I mean, I think the chances are there," Matthews said Monday. "I think it's just a matter of time. We were playing hockey, we were winning, so that's the most important part, and you know that those chances will eventually fall and get going from there."
A lot of players in the league would feel like their lack of contribution is still a burden to their team even if the team overall is winning, and to hear Matthews so confident about his team is a fantastic display of leadership. It's not for a lack of trying, as Matthews has 15 shots on goal and has hit multiple posts in his first three games; he's beating the goalies but not the iron, something he's notorious for doing in his career:
It hasn't just been Matthews, as his linemates Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner have combined for only three points to start, and it's been Toronto's second and third lines that have shown the most offense this young season. Matthews, who enters this season 52 goals away from Mats Sundin's record for most goals scored as a Maple Leaf has a lot of pressure on him to succeed this season. In addition to being expected to score 50+ goals, he's tasked with leading Toronto past the first round for only the second time since 2004.
GM Brad Treliving added some very important pieces this offseason and so far it's paid off in spades, as Anthony Stolarz has been superb in place of Joseph Woll, and Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have played as advertised even if it's taking a bit for them to get going offensively. With those pieces in place and Matthews hitting a hot streak makes the Maple Leafs one of the most dangerous teams in the league, and once Matthews breaks out so will his linemates.
It's been three games into the season and Auston Matthews hasn't recorded a point. It's not lost on the Maple Leafs captain, but for the time being the 'C' is only concerned about the 'W'.
