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We wouldn’t fault Auston Matthews if he wished to postpone the Maple Leafs’ Christmas break.
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Then once more, the three days off between video games is likely to be giving the Leafs famous person centre an opportunity to easily relaxation and reload.
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When the Leafs and Ottawa Senators meet at Scotiabank Enviornment on Wednesday night time, Matthews will search to proceed a sizzling streak that’s eye-popping even for a participant who has repeatedly stuffed the online since his first Nationwide Hockey League recreation in 2016-17.
Fourteen targets in his previous 9 video games introduced Matthews to twenty-eight in his first 30 video games, a run that places him in line to zoom previous his private better of 60 in 2021-22. Two years in the past, Matthews had 22 targets in his first 30 video games. Matthews, who has missed one recreation as a result of he was sick, is on tempo for 76 targets.
Matthews’ taking pictures share proper now could be a career-high 21.4%. In his 60-goal season, it was 17.2%.
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No NHL participant has scored 70 targets since 1992-93. Teemu Selanne set an NHL rookie file when he scored 76 for the Winnipeg Jets, a complete that was equalled that season by Alexander Mogilny of the Buffalo Sabres.
Solely 14 instances in NHL historical past has a participant hit the 70-goal mark in a single season. Wayne Gretzky did it 4 instances, Brett Hull three.
And as for that first NHL recreation, after all, all of us bear in mind Matthews’ four-goal night time in Ottawa in October 2016. In 30 video games towards the Senators since that recreation, Matthews has 19 targets.
Contemplating the regularity by which he has been filling the online just lately, an uptick in his totals towards Ottawa needs to be anticipated.
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RIELLY ‘UNDERRATED’
Not solely has Morgan Rielly been the one fixed on the Leafs blue line — he’s the one Toronto defenceman to skate in each recreation to this point this season — the 29-year-old largely has continued his sturdy play from the 2023 post-season.
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Rielly often deflects to speaking in regards to the success of the workforce as an entire when he’s requested about his personal play, however his teammates gladly will say what the presence of Rielly means to the group.
“He’s so underrated and doesn’t get sufficient credit score across the league, even taking part in available in the market right here,” Leafs captain John Tavares stated. “I’ve by no means seen somebody so unselfish, an amazing teammate, a frontrunner, continues to be so secure and impacts the sport in so some ways. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Rielly has led the Leafs in ice time in every of the previous 5 seasons, and at 24 minutes 32 seconds a recreation in 2023-24, is doing so once more.
“When you might have your horse on the market that may actually paved the way, you already know he’s going to deliver loads at each ends,” Tavares stated. “I do know he’s very pushed to really feel that he needs to proceed to raise his recreation.
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“It’s a credit score to him how he continues to push to steer the group again there.”
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PENALTY-FREE ZONE
Matthews and Rielly are giving one another an early run for the Girl Byng Trophy.
Solely three NHL gamers — Matthews, Rielly and ahead Jake Neighbours of the St. Louis Blues — have performed in not less than 30 video games this season and never been assessed one penalty. Neighbours has performed in 33 video games, Rielly in 31 and Matthews in 30.
It’s in complete minutes performed the place a extra full story is instructed. Rielly has performed 760 minutes 46 seconds; Matthews 638 minutes 22 seconds; and Neighbours 480 minutes 53 seconds.
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What makes the shortage of journeys to the field spectacular on the a part of Matthews is the best way he strips the puck. He’s seventh within the NHL with 32 takeaways and never as soon as has he been known as for a hook or a slash, penalties that may come when a participant is getting his stick within the arms of an opposing participant. Matthews has been capable of do it cleanly each time.
Matthews’ means to keep away from taking penalties has been one of many many hallmarks of his recreation since his first NHL shift. His profession excessive is 20 penalty minutes final season, and his profession low is eight in 2019-20.
Rielly’s profession excessive is 40 in 2021-22, the one season of his earlier 10 within the NHL that he had greater than 28. His low is 12, in 2013-14.
LOOSE LEAFS
Kudos to Fraser Minten on being named captain of Canada on the world junior championship. The management qualities don’t come as a shock to Leafs brass nor his teammates in Toronto because the season started, and the captaincy on such a stage is one other indication of the participant that in the future quickly will take a daily shift with the Leafs. Minten is the primary Leafs prospect to put on the captain’s C for Canada on the world junior since 1985, when Dan Hodgson had the honours. A fifth-round decide by the Leafs in 1983, Hodgson’s time with Toronto was quick, spanning 40 video games throughout the 1985-86 season earlier than he was traded to Vancouver … The Leafs’ seven targets by defencemen (Rielly with 4, and Jake McCabe, Mark Giordano and Conor Timmins with one every) are third-fewest within the NHL. Solely the Chicago Blackhawks (5) and Washington Capitals (4) have fewer from their D-men. The Colorado Avalanche defencemen have scored 27 targets, essentially the most within the NHL … The Toronto Marlies are again in motion on Boxing Day afternoon for one in all their uncommon video games at Scotiabank Enviornment, going through off towards the Belleville Senators at 2 p.m.
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