Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wants to see more from captain Auston Matthews and his teammates.
The Leafs have dropped back-to-back games at home, including allowing three third-period goals to the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-3 loss on Saturday, after winning five of their previous seven games to get back on track.
Noodles reacts to Berube’s latest call out Craig Berube has had no issue calling out his players during his time with the Maple Leafs and his latest call out was pointed straight to the leaders of his team. Is this approach working for Berube or is it time to adjust the expectations for the Leafs? Can Auston Matthews still be considered one of the elite players in the NHL? TSN Hockey analyst Jamie McLennan joins Domino’s That’s Hockey to discuss.
Matthews has just four points (three goals and an assist) over six games in December as the Maple Leafs sit sixth in the Atlantic Division, five points out of a wild-card spot.
Berube admitted Matthews’ play is not where it needs to be, adding he has faith the 28-year-old centre will turn it around, alongside the rest of his teammates.
“It’s not at the level that he wants it at, or us. It’s not just about scoring goals; it’s just the whole game in general, I think. But I do believe and I know he believes it’s going to get better here,” explained Berube on Monday. “It’s not just him. I think it’s our team in general. I thought we, like him, we’re trending in the right direction on that road trip and since we’ve been home, I think it’s dropped a little bit, our game. Not only him, but everybody’s game. We can be better than that.”
After scoring a career-high 69 goals in 2023-24, Matthews has dealt with injuries in each of the past two seasons and has struggled to find the back of the net at the same rate.
Matthews scored a career-low 33 goals in 67 games last season and has netted 13 goals over 26 games this year.
The centre said it’s going to “fall on the leaders” to keep grinding and get things going in the right direction during tight games.
“It’s been a grind lately. I think for us it’s trying to string together points and wins. I think we’ve done a pretty decent job of that over the last seven, eight, nine, 10 games and you just want to continue to put yourself in position to win games and do want you can to help your team win games,” said Matthews.
Matthews centered a line with Matthew Knies and William Nylander, who is also struggling to provide points as of late, at practice on Monday.
“It could be a real good line,” Berube said of the Nylander-Mathews combo. “They got to work together and do things right, but it could be a real good line.”
Nylander has tallied a team-high 34 points in 27 games this season, but has only two assists over six games in December.
“I think we’ve had a lot of experience together,” said Matthews. “We’re good at finding each other. We can understand each other’s games. He obviously is as skilled as they come, makes plays and sees the ice really well and plays with some good pace.
“Hopefully we can generate some good opportunities as we get going here.”
Matthews and the Leafs will welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to town on Tuesday, who are missing star third-year forward Connor Bedard, currently on the injured reserve until the New Year with an upper-body injury.
Maple Leafs’ Monday Practice Lines
F
Knies-Matthews-Nylander
Robertson-Tavares-McMann
Joshua-Roy-Domi
Lorentz-Laughton-Cowan/Jarnkrok
D
Rielly-Benoit
OEL-Tanev
McCabe-Stecher
Thrun-Myers
G
Woll/Hildeby/Akhtyamov
