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Auston Matthews just sent a menacing warning to the NHL: He's back
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews has been in a slump since last season, but tonight against the Winnipeg Jets, he put the league on notice.
Going into tonight's game against the Winnipeg Jets, Auston Matthews had just 27 points in 33 games, 15 of which were goals.
For a guy making $13.25 million per season, this simply isn't good enough. The franchise is expecting a lot more, especially with Mitch Marner gone.
Tonight, Matthews was returning from injury, and he was looking to show the NHL that he's still got it. As it turns out, he did just that.
Auston Matthews scores a hat trick
Midway through the second period, the Maple Leafs were losing 4-1 to the Winnipeg Jets. At the time, Matthews had a goal and was buzzing around the net.
As the game went on, he put the team on his back and scored two more goals, while also notching an assist. His hat trick goal was what sealed the game for the Maple Leafs.
In fact, his goal came just seconds after a goal from Troy Stecher, who tied up the game. It was a gutsy win by the Leafs, and a performance by Matthews that was very necessary.
Now, Matthews has 18 goals and 13 assists in 34 games. A four-point night isn't always going to occur, but this is a good sign of things to come.
If he can continue to put up big-time performances, and score on a consistent basis, then the Leafs will start winning more games.
A 6-5 win is the type of game that the Leafs used to pull off under Sheldon Keefe. Now, they are doing it with Craig Berube.
On Saturday, they will get to try and do it all over again against the New York Islanders.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 1 | 296 ANSWERS Auston Matthews just sent a menacing warning to the NHL: He's back Do you believe Auston Matthews is going to carry the Toronto Maple Leafs to the playoffs? | ||
| YES | 206 | 69.6 % |
| NO | 90 | 30.4 % |
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