Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice isn’t celebrating Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews’ second-round goal drought.
In fact, the Panthers’ bench leader is bracing for it to end and warning the pending doubters about what’s coming soon.
Advertisement
“When I watch the video, (Matthews) has the puck a bunch,” Maurice said on Saturday. “He has the puck on his stick. I am not feeling good about it behind the bench. It doesn’t go, and I feel a lot better about it.
“It is just the opposite emotions for (Panthers forward Sam) Reinhart. He cracked the bar last night on the power play. They are playing the same game.
“It is inevitable for both players. They are both going to score.”
Matthews, a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s top regular-season goal scorer, has three assists but no goals through three games in the series.
Matthews hit the crossbar early in Game 3 and set up two goals on Friday, including Morgan Rielly’s game-tying one to make it 4-4 and force overtime.
Advertisement
The Maple Leafs are outscoring the Panthers 6-3 with Matthews on the ice, including 5-2 at even strength, per Natural Stat Trick.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena.Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Entering Sunday, Matthews ranks third among all playoff skaters in shots (32), and first in missed shots (20) with a meager 6.3 shot-percentage.
“I think he’s doing the right things,” Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies said about Matthews’ approach to the game. “He’s getting looks. It’s bound to fall for him.”
Game 4 is set for Sunday in Sunrise, with the Panthers trailing 2-1 in the best-of-seven series against the Maple Leafs. Puck drop is set at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Related: NHL Announces Major Update to Maple Leafs-Panthers Playoff Series