LEAFS NOTES: Auston Matthews’ goal pace ‘hard to believe’ as Maple Leafs hit Vancouver

No one can say with certainty that Auston Matthews will be able to sustain his current goal-scoring pace.

Matthews’ hat trick on Thursday at Calgary in a 4-3 Leafs win over the Flames put him on pace for 71 goals, which would obliterate his franchise record of 60 goals set two seasons ago. Matthews has 37 goals in 42 games.

“It’s hard to believe, really,” Leafs captain John Tavares told the media in Vancouver on Friday, referring to Matthews’ pace. “When you see it every single day, not just the skill level and the talent, but the work ethic, the drive, it’s really special.

The Vancouver Canucks sit atop the NHL standings with 64 points but won’t take the challenge of trying to frustrate Matthews for granted when the teams meet Saturday at Rogers Arena. While the Toronto superstar has 18 goals in 22 career games against Vancouver, it’s the kind of thing that Matthews did in Calgary that holds more concern for Canucks coach Rick Tocchet.

“You have to protect the guts of the ice with that guy,” Tocchet said on Friday. “I saw (Matthews’ first) goal against Calgary — somehow he got the puck in the middle, and when he gets the puck in the high slot … If you want him to shoot, hopefully it’s from the outside. That’s your game plan at least.

Naturally, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe took a broader view when considering Matthews’ contributions against the Flames. Matthews’ fourth hat trick of the season and 11th of his career drove his team to end a four-game losing streak that had Leafs Nation in emotional tatters, but there was more to it for Keefe.

“His puck battles, his defending, his checking — when he is checking and defending like that, he is winning most of his shifts, and that sets our team up for success,” Keefe said. “The combination of the two things (scoring and defensive strengths) are why a player of his calibre can lead us to winning.”     

BERTUZZI FACTOR

After going with some different line combinations in the past several games, Keefe had Tyler Bertuzzi back on the left wing with Tavares and William Nylander at practice on Friday.

“I just think he has done a good job there most of the season,” Keefe said. “When those guys have been together, they have been a really good line for us. It’s a good fit. It falls into place nicely.”

We would take issue with the idea that Bertuzzi has done a good job on the line. While Bertuzzi does have positive underlying numbers, six goals in 43 games is a major disappointment for someone who was supposed to score and is being paid $5.5 million US to do so.

Bertuzzi was asked why he thinks the goals have not been coming for him.

“I don’t know,” Bertuzzi said. “Just keep working hard, keep getting to the net and eventually it will come.”

On Jan. 1, Reaves indicated after practice that day that he was close to returning, but that has not materialized.

“There is not a lot (Robertson and Reaves) can do at this point while not playing,” Keefe said. “It’s more what is happening around them (with the positives Keefe is seeing in Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann). 

“I have these discussions every day with Tre (general manager Brad Treliving), sometimes multiple times, in terms of how we manage our lineup and try to make the decisions that are the best for the team that particular night, but also looking at a little bit bigger picture.”

Tavares has gone six games without a point, his longest slump as a Leaf. Does his confidence take a hit? “Well, I’m human too, so there’s emotions you feel throughout the game,” Tavares said. “I have a lot of belief in myself, but you have to prove it every single day.” … After going the first 40 games without taking a penalty, Morgan Rielly has been penalized twice in the past three games. “I was happy to go to the box,” Rielly said. “I didn’t want that goose egg on there any longer.” Would Rielly like a shot at the Lady Byng Trophy? “No comment,” he said … The Leafs have had 123 power plays, putting them at 28th before NHL games on Friday. Why are the Leafs near the NHL’s bottom in that category? “I would love to know,” Tavares said. “Getting into the second half of the year now, with the playoff races heating up, the refs don’t want to be the ones deciding games. You just play and compete and earn your calls.”