WINNIPEG — Auston Matthews is feeling like that guy again.
And the group confidence coming off the Toronto Maple Leafs’ most important and thrilling road trip of the season depended on it.
Not only did the captain pump his team on the board with a trademark curl-and-whip wrister and kickstart a dramatic comeback, finish plus-2, and win 62 per cent of his draws, he also teed up linemate Max Domi for the overtime winner on enemy ice Saturday.
No wonder the Winnipeg Jets fans hurled their distaste at the dangerous Matthews each time the puck touched his blade inside Canada Life Centre.
“I mean, they’re not booing for no reason,” Matthews smiled, following a 4-3 thriller in favour of road team.
When your finishing moves are executed according to plan, you’re happy to play heel.
“I mean, a lot of times it’s fun,” Matthews added. “Especially when you end up on the right side of it, like tonight.”
What a night.
The Jets and Leafs have about as lively a rivalry as any two teams that only meet twice a season. They’ve both stumbled off divisional titles and are playing their best hockey with the realization that once assumed playoff spots are in doubt.
Even more vocal and voluminous than when they booed Mitch Marner in Las Vegas two night ago, Leafs Nation gobbled up nearly half of the seats in Manitoba.
A discernible “Go! Jeafts! Go!” chant would ring out as the action elevated. All seven goals were celebrated in the stands.
“It was just a really intense game because the crowd — they’re definitely involved in that game,” Bobby McMann said. “Momentum both ways, you could feel it. And I think the energy was a little bit higher, the pace a little bit higher.”
Play hard, and they’ll love you.
“Oh, it’s unreal. I mean, we got the best fans in the world, and it’s not even close,” Domi enthused. “Even around the hotel and stuff. I mean, last night we got in late, but it was freezing cold and pitch black, and we had, like, 100 fans waiting for us.
“That just speaks volumes to the support we have — and we’re very lucky.”
The players and fans in both shades of blue brought heat inside the barn on an evening where the wind chill had Portage Avenue feeling like –26°C by the time Domi froze the clock like an inhale to the lungs and slammed Matthews’ OT pass into a gaping net behind Connor Hellebuyck.
The captain is on a necessary heater, ripping 10 goals and adding seven assists over his past 11 games.
And as clips of his heavy-legged backcheck during his man Jack Eichel’s OT winner two nights ago in Vegas made the rounds, Matthews needed to deliver a jolt like this.
“He’s been big-time, leading by example, doing all the little things,” said linemate McMann, who tied the game on a high tip in the 56th minute. “You don’t get those points and those goals without winning battles, being competitive, wanting to win games first and foremost.”
Domi drove to the point: “He’s leading the ship.”
The ship had been lilting slightly.
A stinker in Utah, multiple blown leads in Vegas, then down two-zip in the Peg… a road trip that began with a knockout in Colorado could have ended poorly for Toronto.
Instead, head coach Craig Berube declared a “character win” led by 34.
“He was skating and attacking all game. He had his legs, and that line was really good for us tonight,” Berube said. “But, you know, it was a good team effort. I thought everybody contributed and did a good job.”
The Maple Leafs and Matthews’ season have mirrored each other, much like Saturday night.
A slow start.
A troublesome hole.
Followed by bright signs of life, of fight.
“Just battled, competed for the full 60 minutes. I don’t think we ever got down when we were down throughout the game. I just thought, period after period, we built our game and got better as the game went on,” Matthews said.
“This is a tough road trip. Playing some good teams, a lot of travel. This is a tough building to play in here, especially at the end of a road trip. And it’s just nice to collect these points, get on the good side of it, and be able to go back home feeling good about ourselves.”
After Matthews delivered, after he spoke, and after he gave general manager Brad Treliving a subtle fist-bump in the bowels of the Jets’ rink, he fetched a bottle of San Pellegrino and looked up at television set.
A couple teammates joined to look on.
The Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens were knotted in an OT thriller of their own, two rivals ahead in the standings. Three more points stacked on top of where Matthews is trying to lead his team.
As Cole Caufield pounded the winner, Matthews’ eyes stayed fixed to the screen, emotionless but curious.
After a couple of replays, Matthews turned and walked away, his head high.
More work to do.
Fox’s Fast Five
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s stat line: one goal, two assists, three points, plus-4 rating, 25:10.
“He does it all for us every night. He kills, runs a power play, plays big minutes, plays against top lines. And he had a huge night for us,” Matthews gushes.
“Obviously, (his) goal, then the sifter there that Bobby tipped, and then breaking up that play (in overtime) to give us an opportunity to go down on an odd-man rush. I mean, he was unbelievable tonight for us.”
• A fine bounce-back effort by goaltender Dennis Hildeby, outduelling the reigning Hart champ. The towering Swede was hard on himself after surrendering six in Salt Lake City but hung tough with flurries of action in his crease.
“He’s building more and more confidence and understanding the league a lot better,” Berube says.
The Jets also rang so many posts and crossbars that the goal judge was fooled enough to light the lamp on one and the broadcast’s score bug flashed GOAL on another.
“We got some good bounces, for sure,” Matthews acknowledges. “But, I mean, Beastie, he takes up a lot of net, so I don’t know if there’s a whole lot to shoot at.”
Domi smiles: “Post is a goalie’s best friend. I don’t know if that’s luck. That’s just good positioning, right?”
• Simon Benoit (day to day) missed a second straight game with his upper-body injury. Philippe Myers was a dash-2 while skating a team-low 9:18. He was stapled to the bench once the game got tight late. Defensive depth is a concern.
William Nylander (lower body) did not play and is unlikely to suit up Monday versus Minnesota.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be,” Berube says.
• Does Berube want Jake McCabe to guard the back door or attack shooter Kyle Connor on this broken play?
“We turn that one over; we got to make a stronger play. But there’s two elite players coming on you there. So, I think he did the right thing, taking the back door. And the goalie handled the shot,” Berube explains.
“It’s a tough play.”
• Could the Leafs benefit from adding Treliving draft pick Rasmus Andersson?
No doubt, but the acquisition cost is high.
The Boston Bruins, now deadlocked with Toronto for fifth place in the Atlantic, have permission to speak with Andersson.
Could be a harmful development for the Leafs in the divisional arms race.
