Bad news for NHL netminders
Teammates praise centre for ability to create chances from anywhere
Auston Matthews aims higher after goals in six straight,
It’s an impressive group. Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, Alex Ovechkin, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have dominated the NHL since the start of last season with a scoring touch that is both pure and refined.
The five get it done in different ways:
á Matthews and Pastrnak beat opposing goalies with their quick release.
á Ovechkin is the NHL’s onetimer king.
á Draisaitl also possesses an elite-level shot.
á McDavid is the deadliest off the rush.
In Matthews’ case, several Maple Leafs teammates, including goalie Frederik Andersen, mentioned Friday that the big centre is successful because he “has so many different shots.” It’s part of the reason why he has risen to the top of the NHL in some key statistical categories.
Andersen was referring to Matthews’ ability to uncork shots from numerous spots on the ice. His skating ability and dogged determination to retrieve pucks in the offensive zone set up chances that are often created on the spot. And that has sent NHL goalies back to the video room looking for clues.
“I think Auston is really hungry. He demands the puck. He shoots with a purpose every time,” Andersen said. “I think he has so many different types of shots that it’s really tough to prepare or scout him. He kind of picks his spots, and he has really good vision in-game to do that.
“Pastrnak has the same type of release with the newer style of shot … but Auston is the type of guy when he doesn’t have the puck, he works extremely hard to get the puck back on his stick.”
That’s one of the underlying reasons why Matthews leads that impressive group in goals since the start of last season, with 55.
Pastrnak was a close second at 53 entering Friday’s games. Ovechkin and Draisaitl had 51 and 50, respectively, while McDavid was at 45.
Only Matthews (336) and Ovechkin (339) have taken more than 300 shots since the beginning of last season.
But creativity doesn’t happen without the puck on your stick. Matthews and McDavid are the top two in the NHL when it comes to time per game with the puck in the offensive zone. McDavid doesn’t have Matthews’ shot, but shares the lead in slot goals with Matthews (38) dating back to the start of last season.
Zach Hyman, Matthews’ linemate for much of this season and last, sees his ability to get a shot off from anywhere around the net as the key.
“One of the things that separates him from other guys is how consistent he is, how he creates chance for himself every game,” Hyman said of Matthews, who has scored at least once in each of his last six games.
One unheralded part of Matthews’ game has been the evolution of his commitment to defence. It started last season, when he was among the best NHL forwards in takeaways, and has continued with dogged pursuit of the puck in all zones.
“As a player, he’s really developed his 200-foot game and creates chances for himself from his own end. Like you saw in the last game, he broke out and skated it pretty much 200 feet in,” Hyman said, referring in part to Matthews’ first of two goals in Thursday’s 7-3 win over Vancouver.
Matthews was back at it before the Leafs’ practice Friday, working with the team’s skill coaches on shooting to the upper parts of the net.
“He works at it; he’s passionate about it,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said.
“Whether it’s off-season, in season, he wants to get the reps, but I don’t think he gets enough credit for the fact he scores in so many different ways ... close to the net, far away from the net, tips, rebounds. He scores in all different ways, and that’s probably the most impressive part.”