Auston Matthews' takeaway from the road trip: It's not just about who scores for the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs - YouTube
Auston Matthews put it simply after Toronto's 5-1 win over Carolina, that it doesn't matter who is contributing, as long as they keep playing their style of game going forward.
It was the perfect finish to Toronto's road trip on Thursday night with their 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, giving them a boatload of momentum heading into a game against Montreal on Saturday that feels like a must-win for the Maple Leafs.
The team got contributions from everyone yet again, with all four lines impacting the game in one way or another, and it finally felt like the Craig Berube game plan is back in full force.
It's the exact identity Berube has been stressing since camp; heavy on the forecheck, organized in the defensive zone, and comfortable winning low-event games when needed even if they've dominated the scoreboard recently.
Auston Matthews has been leading the charge, with a four-game point streak but he wasn't shy about giving the rest of the team their flowers.
From Matthews' line to the fourth, every Leafs unit had a job on this trip
Speaking to reporters after Thursday's 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, Matthews reflected on the team's road trip and how they finally started to turn things around.
Matthews noted:
I think over the last few games on this road trip, all 4 lines are just getting it done. Everybody's playing hard, everybody's competing. It doesn't matter who's scoring. Everyone's chipping in and doing the little things.
It's been quite an impressive turnaround for the Maple Leafs, who not only have come away with a three-game win streak, but have done so in such dominating fashion.
They finished their last three games of the trip by outscoring opponents 16-4, while also giving up only one power play goal; otherwise they've been stellar in that regard.
But it's the third line that has been on an absolute tear. Over the last three games, the trio of Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann and Dakota Joshua have combined for 12 points, with McMann leading the charge with six points over that span.
Add in the emergence of Scott Laughton at both ends of the ice, plus the stars keeping pace, and suddenly things are looking a lot more stable for Leafs Nation.
How this four-line version of the Maple Leafs changes the way games feel
Right now, Toronto's games feel like it did for a majority of the season last year. Sure they are getting outshot, but they are limiting the dangerous chances, getting a complete effort from every forward line and defensive pairing, while also getting great goaltending.
The goaltending now has a major question mark after Joseph Woll left Thursday's game with a lower-body issue and the team has not yet provided an official update on his status.
Dennis Hildeby has been very solid throughout the season, showing much more poise than last year. It's still a small sample, but his starts so far have at least given the Leafs a credible option if Woll has to miss more time.
While that would have been a serious concern even a couple of weeks ago, with the way the team is playing it might not end up being the worst-case scenario. If they can continue to get contributions from all four lines, and their defense stays as steady as it has been; it won't be easy but it won't be disastrous.
The real test now is whether this version of the Maple Leafs shows up again on Saturday, or whether the old and inconsistent habits creep back in against Montreal.
TRENDING NOW
