He slams into the boards neck-first and is crumpled like an accordion. In another universe, his shot slips 5-hole on Reimer and he gets 70 without wrecking his back for life. The Matthews we knew from before this play is gone.

Matthews has never been the same since this very moment
byu/Mindless-Hippo2857 inleafs

45 comments

  3. I watched this game but don’t remember this clip. Meaningless game except for the race to 70. Arguably Matthews should just have been resting.

  7. People always say his back his hurt. How so? He quite literally uses his back to enter every check he does. He routinely checks opposed players using his back and butt. He hits his back off boards to stop pucks and players. For a guy with a bad back he leads with it all the time. 

  9. I’m finally turning into one of those people that says “how often are we going to see this posed?” 

  11. Man its been a year and a half and he’s 28 not 40. He’s a super talented athlete, he’ll find a way to adjust his game. Hes actually had some good “vintage” snipes this year, he’s just not getting his shots off as often. Also, he’s looked “washed” in the two seasons he’s played with a different coach. You are all forgetting systems – as in where Bérubé wants him in the zone, how he wants him to carry the puck, what shots he wants him to take, how he wants him to cycle the puck etc. he’ll be fine and everyone needs to calm down.

  12. You can make the argument that this is the injury hes been dealing with this whole time. But stop making idiotic claims like “wrecked his back for life” and saying that matthews is gone. Hes 28 and has access to the best doctors in the world. Crosby missed over an entire year, so did eichel. Theres no reason to think whatever his issue is cant be solved until they say that.

  16. I honestly think about this fall all the time like damnit his career hadn’t been the same.

    And he got hurt chasing a goal race not winning a game 7 or anything

  17. I hope you’re right. Sid took a hit from David Steckel and fucked up his neck for like 2 years and went right back to being Sidney Crosby.

  19. There was an article from a couple years ago, I don’t care to find it and people will argue with me that I’m wrong but… Matthews basically said he wants to play a more rounded game..I think going from 70 to what he is now plays into that. Throw in a new coach and some injuries. Boom. We got well rounded Matthews.

  20. To be honest it happens but what’s more argivating is if he’s just not the same player because of injuries that’s fine but don’t gaslight the fans saying he’s healthy. It just makes us look at him as an overpaid bum or shell of himself. I’d rather it come out and confirm he’s hurt and might never be the same player. I can live with that as shit happens.

  21. Degenerative back condition apparently Toronto media has been told they can’t report it.

  22. One day in the future when all parties have moved on and are no longer active I believe this will be exhibit 1A in load management risk assessment before the postseason for front offices.

  24. Matthews was always a heartless, gutless player with lots of talent he rarely taps into. The average Toronto fan is just starting to notice now

  25. 100%. This is the moment I look back to that fucked him up.

    Chasing that 70th goal may have ruined his career. 

  26. It was the chase for 70 and I still recall this game. Ever since this he has not been the same.

  27. Matthews had a total of 22 goals in 50 playoff games and the Leafs won a total of 1 round before this. What’s the excuse then? This team has been mismanaged since Dubas took over and Treliving is doing what he can when he inherited a mess of a franchise . Not that he shouldn’t be blamed for the way the teams going, but he wasn’t given much to work with. Everyone’s playing poorly, that’s just a fact and Matthews has shown that he isn’t a McDavid, Crosby or a Mackinnon type player that can carry a team virtually by himself.

  30. This has been posted like 3 times already. Matthews has always been injury prone, I don’t think you can point a finger at an exact injury rather than it just being a build up over time

  31. Was at this game on the glass in the Detroit end and when he hit that wall I called it. Smashed his head, back and neck. He was a man possessed to get that 70. 69 is alright tho

  33. I really think it’s over for this team

    They can’t compete with any contendor

    Coaching system isn’t working or the players aren’t buying in

    Another decade wasted

  34. I think he needs surgery and has been avoiding it for two years because he wants to play in 4 nations and then olympics

    I think he’s on track for about a 60 point season which means I think he’s will have it this offseason.

    He may or may not be great for his next team but for the leafs I think in this is it. For $13.25M

  37. Biggest issue right now is how Berube wants the team to play. He is a defence first coach and Matthews has been great defensively.

    With the offensive talent this team has, Berube needs to let Matthews do what matthews does best.

    He says he feels great, no injuries he is playing through that we know of.

    13.5 mill for a defensively accurate forward seems like a waste.

  40. Too bad he’s a puddin pop and out of shape. That may have something to do with it as well

  41. The post game interviews were a super weird vibe after this.

    They then played him back to back tampa florida chasing 70 in meaningless games.

    Then got sick (concussion lead to increased nervous system inflation and illness complications)

  42. I think it was a game or two after this game vs Tampa and he was chasing 70, was electric all game. Rang one off the crossbar that would’ve been highlight reel. Anyway, this play is not what has caused his dip in play.

  43. He is just a type of skater kid, beach bum hippie type guy. Look at him in the offseason, he looks like he is going on tour with Phish or something. He never grew up playing street hockey pretending to win a cup..

    Its a job and it pays well.

  45. It’s his knee bro not that moment you can tell when he’s in the playoffs and doesn’t skate as hard

Leave a Reply