Sheldon Keefe rips Auston Matthews in chase for 70
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Toronto Maple Leafs only had 3 games left before facing off against the Detroit Red Wings and all eyes were on Auston Matthews who scored his 69th goal of the season last night in the overtime loss. With so few games left, you could tell the Leafs wanted to get him to 70. After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn't too impressed.
In his post game interview, Keefe ripped into Matthews for wanting his 70th goal; calling him a distraction every time he was on the ice and had the puck on his stick, take a look.
Sheldon Keefe on Auston Matthews getting his 69th goal and the reaction every time he touched the puck:
Yeah, I mean, obviously, that's a major distraction. It doesn't help us, what we're trying to accomplish on the ice. But it's exciting. I get it. And it's-- especially when he gets to 69, you can see it. It's really-- it's growing, anticipating. And now you're feeding it. I'm feeding it. I want it to happen. But I wanted it for the fans. But I'm glad the game's over. Let's move on
Yeah, I mean, obviously, that's a major distraction. It doesn't help us, what we're trying to accomplish on the ice. But it's exciting. I get it. And it's-- especially when he gets to 69, you can see it. It's really-- it's growing, anticipating. And now you're feeding it. I'm feeding it. I want it to happen. But I wanted it for the fans. But I'm glad the game's over. Let's move on
On the one hand, I get it, it's 3 games before the playoffs, Keefe just wants his team to play the right way going in going into the 4 round gauntlet.
On the other hand, if you're a player on the Leafs, you know 2 things: you're already going to the post season and you can't really change your position in the standings, get Matthews that 70th goal, he's already cemented himself as one of, if not the most prolific goal scorers to ever touch the puck to this point in his career.
Whatever the case, there's definitely some tension between Keefe and Matthews.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 14 | 182 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe rips Auston Matthews in chase for 70 Do you think Sheldon Keefe calling Auston Matthews a distraction was appropriate? | ||
| Yes | 54 | 29.7 % |
| No | 77 | 42.3 % |
| 70 matters | 28 | 15.4 % |
| Team over everything, Matthews is selfish | 23 | 12.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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