Craig Berube Makes His Feelings Known on Auston Matthews' Goal Drought and Role with the Team
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube makes his prediction on if Auston Matthews can return to his elite goalscoring form.
Auston Matthews has been absent twice from the Toronto Maple Leafs this season due to a lingering injury that kept him out for multiple weeks and impacted his regular offensive output.
Matthews has just 21 goals in 43 games this season, on pace for 40 goals on the year.
For 90% of NHLer's, it would be a highly impressive tally, but for a former two-time 60-goal producer like Matthews, it's a bit of a disappointment statistically, having a whopping 69 goals last season.
Craig Berube spoke on Matthews' lack of goalscoring, and if the former 'Rocket Richard' winner can get back to his elite scoring ways.
Craig Berube on Auston Matthews' Game Despite Lack Of Goals
Despite a lack of goals for Auston Matthews this season, Craig Berube is still feeling positive about what he is saying from Matthews on the ice.
Berube said on TSN's 'Overdrive' that while there isn't the usual output of goals coming from Matthews, that he feels the Leafs captain is being useful on the ice without scoring.
I don't think that there is anything that's led to this. Look, the other night in Boston, I mean, I think he [Matthews] hit two posts...they're just not going in for him right now.
But I think he's doing a lot of real good things like, he's been good defensively, killing penalties, he's been getting assists, I mean, I like his game overall.
Yeah, there's always things that could be better, that's with every player, right?
But, you know, the goals aren't going in, but it's not from a lack of opportunities or getting in there and creating opportunities, he's getting the chances....I truly believe he's going to come out of this thing and start scoring for sure. - Craig Berube
But I think he's doing a lot of real good things like, he's been good defensively, killing penalties, he's been getting assists, I mean, I like his game overall.
Yeah, there's always things that could be better, that's with every player, right?
But, you know, the goals aren't going in, but it's not from a lack of opportunities or getting in there and creating opportunities, he's getting the chances....I truly believe he's going to come out of this thing and start scoring for sure. - Craig Berube
Despite wanting Matthews to score more, Berube still views his star center as a player who is getting the chances to do so and at a point, he still believes those chances will manifest themselves into being goals with more frequency.
While Auston Matthews isn't scoring at his usual pace, his head coach makes it clear he has full confidence in Matthews to once again return to being one of the NHL's top goalscoring threats.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 27 | 746 ANSWERS Craig Berube Makes His Feelings Known on Auston Matthews' Goal Drought and Role with the Team Will Auston Matthews reach 50 goals again in the future? | ||
| Yes | 559 | 74.9 % |
| No | 187 | 25.1 % |
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