Concerning news on Auston Matthews released just moments before Game 5 by Don Cherry
Photo credit: CBS Sports
With Auston Matthews' scoring drought evident in the Maple Leafs' postseason struggles, Don Cherry believes there may be more to the story, maybe an injury holding him back during the Stanley Cup playoffs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are in an existential struggle with their Atlantic Division counterparts, the Florida Panthers. Tied 2-2, who dares wins and regains control of the series.
For the Maple Leafs, they'll need their best goal scorer, Auston Matthews, to make an appearance.
For Matthews, he's been on a scoring drought, with only 2 goals in 10 Stanley Cup playoff games this year.
Legendary and controversial hockey analyst Don Cherry speculates that Matthews may be injured after blocking a shot with his hand in the 1st-round series against the Ottawa Senators.
"I think he's hurt. He must be, because he's not shooting the way he can.
You wonder if his hand is hurting."
You wonder if his hand is hurting."
Not only is Cherry speculating that this is what is bogging down his performance, but it's Steven Ellis as well. He's shooting the puck, but his accuracy is declining.
"Yeah, this is a guy who's got the most missed shots of any player in the playoffs right now. He's also, I think, second shots in the second round. So he's had these opportunities. He's had a lot of missed opportunities, but high volume shooters will shoot a lot."
while Head Coach Craig Berube believes Auston Matthews' next big goal is coming against the Panthers soon.
"The big goal is coming. That's the way you have to think about it. Who knows when it'll happen? But he's going to get his looks. He does a lot of things in a lot of other areas. Stick to what's he's doing, don't get frustrated.
He'll just have to figure out how to crack Sergei Bobrovsky and the overwhelming Panthers defense. For the Maple Leafs to be a hard exit, they'll need Matthews' production to save their chance to stave off elimination, and that means winning game 5.
For now, all we can do is speculate.
Previously on Hawks Insider
| POLL | ||
MAI 14 | 275 ANSWERS Concerning news on Auston Matthews released just moments before Game 5 by Don Cherry Do you think forward Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs has been injured since round 1? | ||
| Yes | 208 | 75.6 % |
| No | 67 | 24.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
