Maple Leafs increasing level of Auston Matthews’ competition
TORONTO — Auston Matthews was dealt one of the toughest matchups of his young NHL career, and he came out on top.
The 19-year-old scored his team-leading 15th goal, fired a career-high eight shots and played a career-best 21:22 while squaring off primarily against three-time all-star Ryan Getzlaf and former MVP Corey Perry on Monday night. The Maple Leafs also won the puck possession battle when their Calder trophy contender was on the ice against the Ducks’ No. 1 line.
Leafs coach Mike Babcock said Matthews was “fantastic” afterward, describing him as the team’s best player.
Babcock wouldn’t say why he chose to match Matthews against Getzlaf, but regardless the Leafs appear to be increasing the competition level for their emerging American centre. Two nights before the Ducks matchup, Babcock lined Matthews up against Penguins all-world pivot Evgeni Malkin, now the NHL’s third leading scorer.