{"id":440420,"date":"2024-04-30T11:31:45","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T15:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=440420"},"modified":"2024-04-30T13:15:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T17:15:10","slug":"when-individual-is-greater-than-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/04\/30\/when-individual-is-greater-than-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Toronto Maple Leafs Update as Matthews Leaves After Five-Minute Skate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/matthau01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Auston Matthews<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/leafs\/\" target=\"_self\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> as they prepare for game five in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, there&#8217;s lots to discuss<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> In the last, <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">well,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0it&#8217;s been a while now, but no one can argue you hear more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/bruins\/\" target=\"_self\">Boston Bruins<\/a> than Auston Matthews. Is it fair? Of course, it is. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/04\/19\/matthews-pursuit-of-greatness-season-ages\/\" target=\"_self\">Matthews is possibly the greatest goal scorer ever<\/a> and plays in the mecca of hockey.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Heck,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gretzwa01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wayne Gretzky<\/a> played in frigid cold Northern Alberta\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">he<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was all you heard about in the 80s.<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> The point is that you need to embrace the aura, the moment, the game. As for game five tonight, Matthews skated at the team&#8217;s optional session for only about five minutes before leaving. He is a gametime decision at this point.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Auston Matthews was on the ice for 5 minutes this morning. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MapleLeafs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@MapleLeafs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/renlavoietva\/status\/1785327665659941263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>Will Auston Matthews Be a Difference Maker in Game Five Leafs and Bruins<\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Auston Matthews\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">goal-scoring greatness is hard to quantify\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">but<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0we will go with simple is better. It&#8217;s hard to believe that the man\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">who&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0chasing the all-time goal-scoring record, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/o\/ovechal01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Ovechkin<\/a>, only hit 60 once. However, Auston Matthews flexes his strength when you compare shooting percentages<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, Matthews<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is at 16.2 while Ovechkin\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">12.9<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for their careers. Also, let&#8217;s not forget some shortened seasons Matthews endured that hurt his top\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">line,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0but not his GPG numbers. Through Matthews&#8217; eight-year NHL career thus far, if you averaged it out over an 82-game\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">schedule<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0he would have 54 goals and 41 assists. Meanwhile, Ovechkin could only muster up 49 goals and 39 assists. The point we are getting at for the series against the Bruins is to use your strengths.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>How the Leafs Take down the Bruins in Bean-Town<\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If Auston Matthews is shooting, then he is scoring,\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and that<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0increases the Leafs likelihood of coming back to win three in a row. The Bruins are beatable, but you need to attack their weaknesses,\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and that<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is high-end skill. Yes, they\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">do<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have that\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">too<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/pastrda01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Pastrnak<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/swaymje01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeremy Swayman<\/a>. In contrast, if you put one-to-one matches with\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a lot<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0of each team&#8217;s top-ten players, the Leafs get the check box. So, use it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One strategy to apply is to load up your top lines. Probably not early in periods, but through those long stretches mid-way through the first and second periods, run two, maybe three lines, and don&#8217;t let up.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is the strategy to beat the Bruins<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and with<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/nylanwi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">William Nylander<\/a> missing games, and now possibly Matthews as well, it is no wonder the Leafs have struggled to generate offence,\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in particular<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0against Swayman.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joseph Woll is not on the ice for Leafs skate, which suggests he\u2019s starting tonight <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TSN_Edge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TSN_Edge<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mark Masters (@markhmasters) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/markhmasters\/status\/1785328502281023899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>What About in Net<\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The other big storyline ahead of game five for the Leafs down 3-1 to the <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bruins,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is in the Leafs net. Who gets the start? Despite a career 1-2 record in the post-season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/wolljo01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-04-30_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joseph Woll<\/a> has played well when given an opportunity. His only credited playoff win was last year when he stopped 24 of 25 shots as the Leafs beat the Florida Panthers. That score was 2-1,\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and it made<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0the series 3-1 for the Panthers in last year&#8217;s playoffs.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the Leafs number-one goaltender\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">was demoted<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0to the AHL in January. In 20 career playoff starts, he carries a 6-13 record. Good teams in the\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">playoffs,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0don&#8217;t have holes in\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">key<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0areas. Goaltending is so incredibly vital to a team&#8217;s playoff outcome. Not having a better\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">gameplan,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0really is a knock against management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In any sense, these are the big storylines as the Bruins lead 3-1. Will Joseph Woll get the call in net for the Leafs for game five? Additionally, will Matthews draw in, and if so, will he be utilized to optimize his performance? Stay\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">tuned,<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0because it could be a long summer for the players at the range finding their game, and a short one for their head coach, who could\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">very well<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0be looking for something to do.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main photo: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For\u00a0Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs as they prepare for game five in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, there&#8217;s lots to discuss. In the last, well,\u00a0it&#8217;s been a while now, but no one can argue you hear more about the Boston Bruins than Auston Matthews. Is it fair? Of course, it is. Matthews [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4222,"featured_media":440421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,4547,34,4548],"tags":[7903,228,72],"class_list":["post-440420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leafs","category-hockey","category-news","category-nhl","tag-2024-stanley-cup-playoffs","tag-auston-matthews","tag-toronto-maple-leafs"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4222"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=440420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/440421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=440420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=440420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=440420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}