Breaking down Auston Matthews' dominant Game 2 performance for the Maple Leafs (2024)

BOSTON — Through two periods of Game 2, Auston Matthews hadn’t scored a goal but was dominating the game. Then, in the third period, he scored.

A go-ahead goal via breakaway opposite a goalie he’s owned like few others over the years. Make it 12 goals in 11 games for Matthews against Linus Ullmark, none bigger than the one that nailed down a 3-2 victory for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.

It wasn’t just the goal though. It was an all-around performance of dominance from the Leafs best player in a game his team had to have down 1-0 in the series.

In addition to scoring the eventual game-winner, Matthews also directly set up each of the first two Leaf goals. He sent a puck on net that Max Domi was able to bang in for the first Leaf goal and then somehow slipped a backhand pass through a maze on the power play that John Tavares was able to bury.

It didn’t end there.

Matthews threw six hits in nearly 24 minutes, jostled with Charlie McAvoy, attempted 12 shots, and won 16 of his 24 faceoffs. He also pulled a puck away that was creeping uncomfortably close to the goal line in the waning moments of regulation.

“Just world-class, everything he does,” Tavares said. “I think when you see the drive every single day and the passion for the game and wanting to be such a difference-maker night in and night out – and certainly at this time of year to have a night like he did was massive for our group.”

Teammates like to say that scoring goals for the greatest goal scorer in the world is not something that comes up much in their conversations with him.

“He never really talks about production at all,” Morgan Rielly said in a recent conversation with The Athletic.

Even when asked, Rielly added, Matthews is reluctant to delve too deep into his scoring theatrics. Like the time last season when Rielly, stuck in a lengthy goal drought to begin the season, literally asked Matthews, like, how to score.

He needed help. Who better to ask?

“And he’s like, I don’t know!” Rielly said of Matthews’ response. “He’s just, in all the best ways, he’s just one of the guys. And then in all the other best ways, he puts in time and is completely dedicated, completely committed to the team. The way he strikes a balance is incredible.”

Rielly says he’s never seen anyone prepare more in advance of the season starting than Matthews. He describes Matthews’ preparation as particularly unique, such as all the “little super specific skill plays” he’ll work through when he hits the ice.

Rielly got a glimpse of that when he and Matthews had their own skate together around the All-Star break in Toronto.

“It’s just so specific to what he does,” Rielly said. “He just spends tons and tons of time doing the same stuff, the little skill plays. And then he takes care of his body extremely well. He’s just dialed in, in an understated way.

“He prioritizes his well-being, our team, and the game, and his performance, and that’s the most important thing.”

Matthews has beaten many, many goalies during his time in the NHL, but he’s owned few like Ullmark.

Matthews’ ownership of Ullmark probably should have factored into the Bruins’ decision to start Ullmark over Jeremy Swayman in Game 2 — though Matthews is probably beating just about any goalie in that spot.

He’s scored two goals, if you’re wondering, in his career against Swayman, who the Bruins figure to go back to for Game 3 on Wednesday night.

“I think it’s just happening so fast you don’t really have time to think,” Matthews said of his backhand-to-forehand finish on the go-ahead goal, which came after he gloved down the pass from Domi. “It’s honestly just instincts and just trying to make the right play.”

The goal snapped a six-game playoff goal drought for Matthews.

THROW IT UP TO PAPI AND LET HIM GO GET IT!! 😤😤😤 pic.twitter.com/t5HcFHXy08

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 23, 2024

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe resisted change to Matthews’ line after a sluggish Game 1, sticking with Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi on Matthews’ flanks. He then proceeded to give the line offensive zone draw after offensive zone draw after offensive zone draw – a team-high nine for the unit and not a single one in the defensive zone.

It helped that Matthews dominated the circle down there. The trio was also hungry to win back pucks. It all led to a gaudy expected goals mark for the line of almost 75 percent.

Keefe was most pleased by how the line competed and worked, efforts that were led by Matthews.

“He was all over the stat sheet tonight and in so many regards he was affecting the game positively for us,” Keefe said. “But to me just the way he worked, the way he competed – he was hard, physical, winning puck battles all over the ice. And I would say the same thing about (Bertuzzi) and (Domi).”

“It’s all about just trying to get to the net,” Matthews said.

The line generated six high-danger attempts (of 10 for the Leafs) in just under 12 minutes and won their matchup against both the Charlie Coyle line and defence pairing of Brandon Carlo and Hampus Lindholm.

Down William Nylander to injury for a second straight game to start the series, the Leafs needed a performance like this from their MVP.

He delivered.

(Photo: Rich Gagnon / Getty Images)

–Stats and research courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, Hockey Reference, and Stat Head