Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Penalty kill time on horizon
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Matthews will see more regular time on the penalty kill this season, reports The Athletic.
Matthews has seen a total of only about 24 minutes on the PK in nearly 500 NHL games, but that's about to change. Matthews is one of the NHL's best 5v5 players and always among the league leaders in takeaways. So, the threat of a steal -- and of Matthews taking off shorthanded with a lot of open ice -- will certainly put extra pressure on opposing PPs. Matthews won't be one of the Leafs' top options on the PK -- those minutes belong to Mitchell Marner, David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, with Sam Lafferty getting some, too. The only negative? Playing on the PK will likely lead to a slight drop in 5v5 time. That's less than ideal for one of the NHL's best 5v5 players, and for fantasy managers needing that even-strength production, but it won't be enough to affect his draft spot or overall fantasy worth.
Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Makes four-year commitment to Leafs
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Matthews agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract extension with Toronto on Wednesday.
Matthews has one campaign left on his existing five-year, $58.195 million contract, so he's now committed to the Maple Leafs through 2027-28. His $13.25 million cap hit is set to be the highest in the league in 2024-25, but that's understandable considering he's reached the 40-goal milestone in each of the last four years. In 2021-22, he scored 60 goals and 106 points in 73 outings en route to capturing the Hart Trophy. Still just 25, Matthews should remain an elite forward throughout the duration of his contract extension.
Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Eight-game, 11-point streak
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Matthews got a power-play assist in a 3-2 loss to Florida on Thursday in Game 2.
He fired six shots and laid four hits. Matthews is doing his part this postseason -- he has delivered points in every playoff game (five goals, six assists; eight games). But the Leafs are down 2-0 heading into Game 3 in Florida. Matthews is a great player, but he and Mitchell Marner (12 points) can't do it all.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Scoring streak reaches seven games
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Matthews registered an assist in Toronto's 4-2 loss to Florida in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Matthews has recorded a point in each of his first seven postseason outings this year and is on an 11-game playoff scoring streak that began during Toronto's 2022 series against Tampa Bay. He has seven goals and 14 points in that span. During the 2023 playoffs specifically, Matthews has contributed five goals and 10 points.
Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Four-game goal streak
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Matthews scored a goal Saturday in a 2-1 overtime win over Tampa Bay in Game 6. With the win, Toronto took the opening round series 4-2.
Matthews scored his fifth goal of the postseason with a one-timer from the top of the right circle in the second period. He had called for the puck and T.J. Brodie obliged with a perfect pass from the left point. Matthews is riding a four-game, five-goal streak, and he has points (five goals, four assists) in all six of the Leafs games this postseason.
Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Five-game, eight-point streak
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Matthews scored a goal in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Lightning in Game 5.
Matthews put in a rebound at the side of the net at 16:26 of the third with Ilya Samsonov pulled for a 6-on-5 advantage to stretch his goal streak to three games (four goals). He has put up points in all five of the Leafs postseason games (four goals, four assists).
Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Sparks Leafs' comeback win
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Matthews netted two goals, including one on the power play, in the Maple Leafs' 5-4 overtime victory over Tampa Bay in Game 4 on Monday.
With Toronto down 4-1 heading into the third period, Matthews took matters into his own hands. The star forward provided back-to-back goals midway through the third period to spark the Leafs' eventual comeback by narrowing the Lightning's lead to 4-3. Matthews is up to three goals and seven points in four playoff games this year. He's also been held off the scoresheet only once over his last seven outings.
