Mark Masters shared Auston Matthews' latest message to the Maple Leafs, and the star center sounds tired of the losing.
It comes after Sunday night's 4-0 loss to the Devils, Toronto's third straight defeat. The Leafs sit at 8-9-2, 20th in the NHL.
Masters posted Matthews' words on Monday, and the center didn't dodge the state of the room.
-
"We're banged up," Matthews said, before turning to his teammates. "Guys gotta look in the mirror & ask a little bit more of themselves & take on a little bit more." He added that he hopes the situation is "something that can kind of propel us forward & bring us a little bit closer together."
The injury reference is notable, but the post doesn't say who he means, and nothing in our information lists the Leafs' absences. What it does tell us is that the message is aimed inward.
On Wednesday, Matthews holding the Leafs accountable after the Utah loss was already the talking point. Now he's repeating it, this time with a request that everyone take on more.
## H2PLACEHOLDER
Can Toronto's slide be fixed by words alone?
No. Words don't score goals, and the Leafs' goal differential is 0 on the season, 64 for and 64 against. That's a team playing exactly .500 hockey in the goal column while the record says otherwise.
Matthews himself did his part on Sunday by getting 4 shots on goal over 19:30 of ice time, but he finished without a point and at -1. Anthony Stolarz made 25 saves on 28 shots, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped all 23 he faced for the Devils.
The center has 27 points in 19 games, with 11 goals. When your best player is producing like that and the team still sits seventh in the Atlantic, asking teammates for more is fair. It also puts pressure on the rest of the room to answer in games, not in scrums.
Coach Jim Hiller gets the next chance to test it Tuesday night against the Avalanche.
Quick hits
UTAH MAMMOTH: The Mammoth have recalled defenseman Zac Jones from Tucson, per NHL Rosters, and Nate Schmidt's status is unclear. Reading between the lines, the blue line needs help.
-
COLORADO AVALANCHE: Hockey Mountain High reports the Avalanche recalled 24-year-old Alex Gagne from the Colorado Eagles. Cale Makar's status is unclear, and Toronto arrives Tuesday.
-
ST. LOUIS BLUES: Matthew DeFranks reported that Logan Mailloux skated on a pair with Philip Broberg at Monday's practice. That's a strong hint a return is near.
-
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Jackie Spiegel reports Joseph Woll should be in net for the Flyers tonight in Vancouver, with Leevi Merilainen expected to answer for the slumping Canucks.
-
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Aaron Portzline reports winger Conor Garland is out indefinitely with an upper body injury. A real loss for Columbus.
-
Is Auston Matthews right to put the Maple Leafs' slide on his teammates?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Boston sends Florida home embarrassed after chaos involving Brady and Matthew Tkachuk
