Monday’s prime NHL gamers
Auston Matthews (and, to a lesser extent, Mitch Marner), Maple Leafs
Properly, in the event you griped about Auston Matthews reaching 50 objectives on an empty-netter,* he delivered his subsequent objectives within the satisfying type of an empathic hat trick.
Regardless of being restricted to 64 video games in comparison with 70 for Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews actually strengthened his lead within the Maurice Richard Trophy race. While Draisaitl reached 50 goals on Sunday, Matthews pushed his season complete to 54, and likewise collected an help throughout the NHL motion on Monday.
Matthews has a methods to go to get to 100 factors, as he’s now at 92 (54G + 38A). It’s all of the extra astounding if you consider Matthews’ near-Selke-level all-around play, together with exceptional self-discipline. (Via 398 profession regular-season video games, Matthews has solely generated 70 penalty minutes.)
* – Uh, perhaps get some recent air or one thing?
In a while on this submit, we’ll focus extra broadly on Matthews’ Maple Leafs being an excessive amount of for the Lightning to deal with. First, let’s dig by means of a couple of extra tidbits about Auston Matthews at 54 objectives:
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These 54 objectives leave Matthews tied with Rick Vaive for the Maple Leafs’ single-season franchise report.
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By reaching 54 objectives, Matthews already has extra objectives than another participant in a decade. Steven Stamkos scored 60 in 2011-12; might Matthews surpass that complete, too? The league notes that Matthews is on tempo for 65 objectives.
In the mean time, Auston Matthews is on a six-game aim streak, and a 13-game level streak. Simply illustrious, presumably Hart Trophy-worthy stuff.
Mitch Marner isn’t far behind Matthews. He scored a aim and two help throughout that Maple Leafs win over the Lightning throughout the NHL video games on Monday. General, Marner has produced 84 factors in 60 video games.
Monday NHL highlights
Watch that Auston Matthews hat trick:
Jake DeBrusk scored two objectives for the Bruins, together with the OT-winner vs. the Blue Jackets:
Johnny Gaudreau scored a mere 10 seconds into the Flames’ sport towards the Kings.
Monday NHL Takeaways
Maple Leafs draw back from Lightning on huge evening for Matthews, Marner
5:46 by means of the second interval, a Jan Rutta aim tied issues up 2-2 between the Maple Leafs and the Lightning. Toronto would find yourself scoring 4 unanswered objectives to win 6-2. Matthews already scored a aim earlier than that 2-2 tie, however he actually dominated as the sport went on, ending with that hat trick and help.
Whereas the high-danger likelihood battle was pretty shut (Toronto developed a 14-12 benefit at 5-on-5), the Maple Leafs actually punished Andrei Vasilevskiy from the “prime real estate” of the ice. This Natural Stat Trick heat map tells a number of the story:
Afterward, the Lightning didn’t sound completely satisfied about their efficiency towards the Maple Leafs. Jon Cooper, amongst others, vented:
Talking of the place the Maple Leafs and Lightning (and, for that matter, the Bruins) are at, right here’s the up to date Atlantic Division standings from ranks 2-4:
Maple Leafs: 95 factors in 69 video games performed, 43 regulation/OT wins
Bruins: 93 factors in 69 GP, 42 ROW
Lightning: 93 factors in 69 GP, 41 ROW
Even with this win, the Maple Leafs merely maintain a small two-point lead over the Bruins and Lightning for the second Atlantic Division spot. (No one’s especially close to the Panthers, atop with 102.)
Remarkably, the Bruins maintain a tiebreaker benefit over the Lightning after their Monday video games within the NHL. Really, concerning the Bruins …
Bruins grind out OT win powered partially by DeBrusk; finish Monday forward of Lightning
In case you shot the Maple Leafs with truth serum, who would they like to face within the first spherical: the Bruins or the Lightning?
In a single nook, you might have the defending repeat champion Lightning. Within the different nook, you might have the historic rival Bruins, who occur to be 17-2-1 in their last 21 games.
Powerful selection!
Like an alternate Evgenii Dadonov, it certain looks like a resurgent Jake DeBrusk makes the Bruins scarier. With two objectives throughout the NHL motion on Monday, DeBrusk is now on a five-game aim streak (6G, 2A). That’s after being restricted to a single help and 0 objectives in eight video games from March 7-24.
This marks the second time DeBrusk’s reached the 20+ aim mark (21). It gained’t be straightforward to match his career-high of 27 objectives, nevertheless it’s removed from implausible.
Little question, it helps DeBrusk to line up alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. But, if he can produce with these two stars, that enables the Bruins to diversify their assault by additionally lining up Taylor Hall with David Pastrnak.
Tuesday’s huge story
One other evening that might affect the race for the ultimate Western Convention playoff spots
Groups just like the Avalanche, Flames, Wild, and Blues really feel like they’re primarily attempting to enhance already-good conditions out West. Possibly you’re feeling the identical method concerning the Kings and Oilers.
However there may be nonetheless vital room for motion within the West, significantly with the ultimate two wild-card spots. The Predators hope to strengthen their maintain over a spot towards the Wild, whereas the Stars hope to keep away from one other letdown, this time towards a spoiler menace within the Islanders. (In case you don’t belief the Oilers but, they’re in motion towards the Sharks.)
Past these extra pressing video games, there are another treats in Maple Leafs – Panthers and Avalanche – Penguins. General, Tuesday seems like a real feast for followers.
Monday NHL scores
Maple Leafs 6, Lightning 2
Blues 5, Coyotes 1
Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 2 (OT)
Flames 3, Kings 2
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James O’Brien is a author for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or comply with him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.
NHL Rink Wrap: Matthews powers Maple Leafs, Bruins pass Lightning initially appeared on NBCSports.com
