For a rare occasion in recent years, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.Even rarer than that, they are 2-1 ahead in their second-round series against the Florida Panthers.The Maple Leafs are in a good playoff position at the moment, which is quite surprising considering their history.

The Leafs’ big guns are performing and leading the team to its best playoff finish in a long time.

However, even if the Leafs’ big guns all have more than one point per game (William Nylander: 15 points, Mitch Marner: 12 points and Auston Matthews: 10 points) with the exception of John Tavares, who has seven points in nine games, one of the four remains rather disappointing.

I’m talking about Leafs captain Auston Matthews.

Well, because he’s only scored two goals in nine games, which is far too few for a guy who’s considered one of, if not the NHL’s best goal scorer.

And when you analyze Matthews’ playoff goals, you realize that it’s really a trend: the Leafs’ captain barely scores in the playoffs, and more importantly, he’s nowhere near the pace he maintains in the regular season.

That’s what Steve Simmons noted in his most recent article, when he explained that it takes a lot more from Matthews in the playoffs, especially when compared to other NHL superstars.

But in the playoffs, if we take Matthews’ last 19 games, he would average 13 goals over a full season.

That’s really not enough, when a scorer like him should find a way to score either as much in the season as in the playoffs, or even more in the playoffs, when that’s when the best need to take their game up a notch.

If we take Nathan MacKinnon as an example, since the start of his career, he’s averaged 34 goals per season, but in the playoffs, he’s averaging 47 goals per 82 games.

It’s impressive how the Colorado Avalanche forward raises his game, even more so in the playoffs.

He’ll have to perform in the playoffs, and that starts now with the Leafs’ series against the Florida Panthers, in which Matthews has yet to score once in three games.

Overtime

– Berube is doing a great job with the Leafs.

– Canada quickly creates a tie.

What a tip!

– MacKinnon and Horvat continue to shine at the World Championship.

– To watch tonight.

Connor Hellebuyck’s playoff splits so far this year.
Home: .902Sv% and 1.99 GAA and 5-1 record.
Road: .758Sv% and 7.24 GAA and 0-3 record.

Coming off a shutout can he find his game in Dallas today?

– Incredible. He’s only 17 years old.