TORONTO — The team with all the Toronto Maple Leafs won not one but two elimination games on home ice, putting a tidy bow on their storybook all-star weekend.
Team Matthews trumped Team McDavid 7-4 Saturday in what was a highly entertaining and more competitive-than-expected 3-on-3 tournament.
The home fans left happy. Team Matthews left $1 million richer. And Auston himself scooped up the game’s MVP award for a two-goal, three-point effort in the finale that included the winning goal.
“We were talking in the locker room. I don’t think there was much messing around. I think everybody was pretty much on the same page — to try to go out there, put in a pretty good effort, and try to come up with a good result,” Matthews said.
“The team just seemed to gel really well, and guys put in some really good efforts out there. Just a lot of fun on the bench and a lot of chatter, a lot of encouragement, a lot of chirping. And I think that’s what this weekend is all about. It’s supposed to be fun.”
The fun came from celebrity coaches like Canucks stan Michael Bublé, who may or may not have been macro-dosing mushrooms for three days.
From Will Arnett, whom co-coach Peter Laviolette credited with delivering one of the best pregame pep talks he’s ever heard.
And from Team Matthews co-coach Justin Bieber, who wore a ridiculous red-and-pink polka-dot fur coat that made the pop star easy to spot from the 600 level.
“We we’re loving it,” Matthews smiled. “We were saying Monty should chuck in on for the second period.”
Monty, of course, is Bruins-coached Jim Montgomery, who ironically found himself in charge of four Leafs — Matthews, Morgan Rielly, Mitch Marner and William Nylander — and giddily wrapped an arm around Bieber when his group clinched the title.
“He was great to be around. He was so into it, you know? And he had real emotion,” said Montgomery, who used his time on the bench to pick the musical brain of his assistant.
“Who do you listen to, like, when you’re just relaxing at home?” Montgomery asked The Biebs.
“He said right now he’s listening to some new band from Austin, Texas, I’ve never heard of. I wrote ’em down though, so I’m going to check ’em out.”
Montgomery was in it to win it, though. And didn’t hesitate to make an adjustment to a winning lineup.
So, after Team Matthews survived its tight semifinal against Team Hughes, edging the Canucks-loaded squad 6-5 in a shootout, Montgomery split up Matthews and Marner.
“Well, one line was minus-3 in the first game,” Montgomery reasoned. “Third line was great. I talked to Auston about it, and Auston agreed.”
Matthews and good friend Clayton Keller got defensive support from Rielly in the deciding game, while Marner and Nylander were paired with responsible two-way pivot Vincent Trocheck.
That small tweak balanced the lines, and every member of Matthews finished the speedy championship game a plus-1.
“I noticed Willy talking about backchecking,” Montgomery chuckled. “Didn’t expect that.”
Indeed, the chirps and laughs continued well past the final buzzer.
But sprinkled in the centre of the good times had by all involved this weekend in the centre of the hockey universe were some genuine moments of reflection and gratitude.
“The only thing that surprised me at all was nerves,” said Rielly, a first-time all-star after 11 seasons in the league.
“I didn’t expect to get nervous or anything like that before the game, and I think when you’re in that environment, around all those unique players, I think I was a little nervous.”
Marner wasn’t nervous, but he was appreciative for the weekend.
“Amazing,” Marner said. “I’ve dreamt of being in all-star games my whole life. I’ve watched all-star games from my couch, on my carpet with my parents. You know, just watching Sid, Spezza, Hossa, Owen Nolan, and the list goes on and on.
“You always dream of being a part of one. And to have it in this city, it’s pretty remarkable. And to be able to enjoy it with the ones that got me to where I am, it’s even better.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• Here’s Nikita Kucherov‘s reaction to Friday’s Olympic announcement:
“Is Team Russia going? I want to go. I think everybody wants to go. Definitely means a lot for the country. Ever since I was a kid, I was watching Olympics and dreaming to be part of it one day — and sucks to not participate in one. But, hopefully, my fingers crossed, that we’re gonna be in the Olympics, that Team Russia gonna is be on the Olympics, and it’s gonna be a real best-versus-best. Because when Team Russia is not out there, it’s not the same.”
The IIHF has not yet decided on Russia’s eligibility for 2026, but with Belarus eager to participate in Olympic qualifying games this August, the governing body is under pressure to make a call.
• The catch with 2025 4 Nations Face-Off? Some decent talent from countries such as Czechia, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, and Latvia will be left out in the cold.
“I’m glad they don’t call it best of the best because it’s only four nations. A lot of good players are sitting that out,” says David Pastrnak, a proud Czech.
“I just found out it’s gonna be in Boston. That stings. That one hurts a little bit. But I understand they didn’t have much time to come up with the format, so I’m definitely gonna watch it.”
• All players ruled ineligible to play for Team Canada due to the 2018 world juniors investigation, such as the disappointed Cale Makar, are appealing their case with the IIHF.
Participation in 2025’s 4 Nations Face-Off won’t be an issue because that is an NHL-run event.
• Favourite head-to-head matchup, by far: Crosby-MacKinnon-Makar line versus Draisaitl-McDavid-Pastrnak line.
• Justin Bieber got to live out a little fantasy camp, participating in the game’s warm-ups and posing for a photo at centre ice with any all-star that asked.
“You could tell he was just having a fun time,” says Kyle Connor, after sharing a dressing room with The Biebs.
“He loves the game more than anybody. I’m sure this is an awesome experience for him. To hang out and talk to a guy like that, who’s so humble as well, it’s pretty cool.”
