“He’s played so tremendously well. There’s been a lot of focus on the pursuit of 70, but you lose sight of how he’s played. The last two games, give him those types of chances and he might have got 75. It’s okay. Sixty-nine is still damn good. There are more great things to come.”
Kucherov collected his 100th assist as part of a three-goal Lightning second period that helped build its five-goal lead. Those breakdowns did get under Matthews’ skin.
“The second wasn’t good enough in our end, definitely not how we want be playing going into the post-season. I don’t think we can just think we’re going to just turn it on come Saturday. But the third (three late goals by TJ Brodie, Pontus Holmberg and John Tavares) showed signs of life and playing to the final whistle.
“Now it’s the important part of the season and we turn our focus to Boston.”
Until the second period it seemed Kucherov might be denied, too. On an earlier power play, Jones made a huge save on Brayden Point that would’ve been his hundredth helper, while Steve Stamkos hit the post on another feed.
But the Leafs kept playing with fire. When Connor Timmins over-reacted after a crease scrum with Matt Dumba and got an extra two, Kucherov set up Point in the slot and the extended home celebration began. McDavid and Kucherov getting to triple figures became the first duo since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in 1988-89.
Matthews’ close calls included his 20th post/crossbar, an unofficial league record. He had seven shots in the first period alone with Lightning back-up Matt Tomkins coming up as big as Andrei Vasilevskiy. Matthews, without Max Domi on his line the past couple of games, ended the ‘23-24 campaign with 107 points.
Before the game, Tampa coach John Cooper said the pure fan in him wanted both Kucherov and Matthews to reach their milestones.
“If (Matthews does it), I’ll take solace that 69 times before that, no one else could stop him.”
Kucherov changed the narrative by scoring in the first period to increase his lead in the Art Ross Trophy race to 144 on McDavid who was playing out the schedule in Arizona.
GAME ON
Three ailing forwards legitimately needed Wednesday off for Game 1 recovery time, Domi (undisclosed), Bobby McMann (lower body) and Calle Jarnkrok (hand) were in the stands, with Keefe listing the trio as “possibilities” to play Saturday … Defencemen Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe and Joel Edmundson didn’t play in Tampa, replaced by Tuesday scratches Mark Giordano, Timmins and Brodie … There were duelling “MVP” chants among fans of Matthews and Kucherov, only two candidates in a crowded field … Jones deserved better from the team in front of him in what might be his last appearance of the year. That said, Samsonov should get the chance to carry his excellent second half into playoffs … If there are any health issues Saturday, Ryan Reaves (with Toronto’s first goal) and Noah Gregor proved themselves effective as individual fill-ins or as a unit … Brodie ended a 111-game scoring slump with his goal, though he was hoping Matthews was closer to the net for a tip … Among the poor attention to detail on Wednesday, Tyler Bertuzzi dropping a puck meant for Matthews that became Nick Paul’s opening goal and a breakaway for Brandon Hagel after William Nylander chose not to play a puck off a Toronto high stick. It allowed Calvin de Haan to wait for the Leafs to leave open ice for Hagel … The Leafs had not lost four straight since early January.
LOOSE LEAFS
Matthews is the Leafs nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership qualities on and off the ice. Matthews does a lot of work with the Hospital For Sick Children that he keeps low key … Matthews’ flurry of shots on Wednesday moved him to 2,273, past Bob Pulford into sixth place in Leaf history … Leafs assistant to the GM Shane Doan was one of the many former Coyotes who flew in for Wednesday’s last home game before the move to Salt Lake City … Matt Murray made 24 saves in the Marlies 3-1 loss in Rochester on Wednesday.
