Team USA Players have Choice Words for Auston Matthews
Photo credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images
The group stage has now concluded for the Olympics, and Team USA went a perfect 3-0 to start their campaign, despite not capturing the first seed, losing out to Team Canada, the Americans are looking good, and several players have given Auston Matthews a lot of credit.
It's not easy to captain a nation, but that is what Auston Matthews is doing and teammates Zach Werenski and Jake Guentzel recognize his ability.
Auston Matthews teammates know how special he is.
Nicholas Giannone of The Heavy reported on where the Americans stand going into the quarter-finals and beyond, a date with Team Canada is almost a given in the semi-finals, and it is bound to be a game for the ages. Matthews will have lead the way, and he has all the confidence in the world from his teammates.
"There are a lot of things he does really well. Even when he is not producing, there are things that people might not notice. Everyone is always focused on his goal scoring – and rightfully so, he is one of the best goal scorers in the world – but since we have been here, he has been such a leader for us with the way he plays the game. … He plays the right way. He is always getting chances, winning face-offs, and tonight it is nice to see him get rewarded.”-Werenski
Matthews has received a lot of criticism in the past from his lack of leadership or inability to win the big game. He will have to be near perfect if the USA want to win gold this year. And so far in the group stage he has gotten better every game, capped off by a three point performance against Team Germany in the third and final game. The Americans will need to ride all the momentum they can muster to get past the quarter-finals and eventually the Canadians, and Matthews needs to lead the way.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 16|402 ANSWERS Team USA Players have Choice Words for Auston Matthews Do Auston Matthews and Team USA have what it takes to get passed Team Canada? | ||
| Yes | 97 | 24.1 % |
| No | 305 | 75.9 % |
| List of polls | ||