{"id":416773,"date":"2026-01-19T23:09:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T23:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/416773\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T23:09:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T23:09:15","slug":"matthews-driving-hot-streak-by-pushing-pace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/416773\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthews driving hot streak by pushing pace"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild<\/a> skated at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Auston Matthews<\/a> scored again on Saturday is now up to 10 goals in 11 games since Christmas. The Leafs centre scored 14 goals in 31 games before the holiday break. What allowed Matthews to flip the switch this season? <\/p>\n

\u201cA lot more pace in my game,\u201d he told TSN before a game in Las Vegas last week. \u201cI\u2019m hanging onto pucks more, carrying it through the neutral zone and creating from there.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHis lateral movement has been exceptional,\u201d observed linemate Bobby McMann<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s always been one of his strengths, but I feel like he\u2019s generating a lot with off his shots, off receiving passes and things like that to generate offence.\u201d<\/p>\n

During that interview in Las Vegas, Matthews made it clear he had grown weary of questions about Leaf-turned-Knight Mitch Marner, but the departure of his long-time linemate likely played a role in his early issues. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere was an adjustment period,\u201d said TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston. \u201cA lot of different linemates for Matthews through this season, but with the current look [between McMann and Max Domi<\/a>] they\u2019re finding places for him to shoot and he\u2019s burying on a lot of those chances.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnston reports that health is the biggest factor. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou see it in things like his shot speed,\u201d Johnston said. \u201cSome of his best and hardest shots of the year have come in this stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthews has missed six games due to an undisclosed injury this season. <\/p>\n

What has been the catalyst for Matthews’ elevated play of late? What has contributed to Auston Matthews’ recent surge in scoring and performance? TSN Maple Leafs reporter Mark Masters is joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to discuss the play of Toronto’s captain, the Wild’s heavy reliance on Quinn Hughes and the latest on a timeline for William Nylander’s return. <\/p>\n

Whatever the reason, there\u2019s no debating the impact Matthews is having on the Leafs through his improved play. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he\u2019s dominating the puck and controlling play, dominating play and doing so many things well, it obviously drives the team in so many facets,\u201d said centre John Tavares<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a big reason why we\u2019re having the success we\u2019re having,\u201d said defenceman Troy Stecher<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s what you want out of your captain is to kind of drag the rest of the guys into the fight, and he\u2019s definitely done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Leafs are 8-1-3 since Christmas (.792 points percentage), which is second overall behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> (10-0-1). <\/p>\n

‘You feed off it’: Matthews hot streak fueling Leafs Auston Matthews has scored nine goals, and added four assists in nine games so far in 2026, and the Maple Leafs have gone 6-1-2 during that span. Toronto’s captain’s hot streak hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates, as they have lauded Matthews for dragging the team into the wild card hunt. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Matthews faces a big challenge on Monday night with the Minnesota Wild<\/a> in town. He has produced just one assist in his last four showdowns with Quinn Hughes<\/a>. Those previous four games came when Hughes played for the Vancouver Canucks<\/a>. The smooth-skating defenceman was traded to the Wild on Dec. 12. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m starting to get a little bit comfortable in understanding my teammates and the system and all these different things,\u201d Hughes said. \u201cA little bit more of a process than probably what I anticipated … If you\u2019re working for a company for seven years and then you go to a new company, you don\u2019t know anyone. I mean, that\u2019s going to be a change for you, I bet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hughes has produced two goals and 16 assists in 17 games since the trade. Eleven of those points have come in the past eight games. <\/p>\n

Hughes is happy with the quality of chances he\u2019s getting, but feels he can do a better job finishing. He scored on Saturday, which was his first goal since his first game with the Wild. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to be you,\u201d the 26-year-old said of the transition. \u201cBut also you are going to a really good team … It\u2019s not the Quinn Hughes<\/a> show. Like, there\u2019s great players here and it\u2019s a great team, and I just want to do my part. That\u2019s the fine line the first five, six, seven, 10 games. We\u2019re trying to figure it out. And I feel like now it\u2019s going pretty good, so I just got to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

One thing that hasn\u2019t changed: Hughes is still playing a lot. He\u2019s averaging 27 minutes and 55 seconds per game since joining the Wild, who deploy him against top lines. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a great-skating defenceman,\u201d said Wild coach John Hynes. \u201cHe can close gaps on the rush. He\u2019s tough to beat off the rush because of his ability to skate. He\u2019s got a good stick. I think down low in the corners he\u2019s such a smart player. He uses his leverage and his quickness to be able to kill plays and end plays and when he\u2019s called upon to close a play or box out or defend in the hard areas there\u2019s a willingness to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n

‘It’s not the Quinn Hughes show’: Ex-Canuck getting more comfortable with Wild\u00a0\u00a0 In 17 games with the Wild this season, Quinn Hughes has two goals and 16 assists. The star defenceman was traded to Minnesota earlier this season, and admits that it has taken time to adjust to the systems the Wild use, but is enjoying life with one of the top teams in the NHL. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

William Nylander<\/a> did not skate on Monday morning and the winger will miss a second straight game. Head coach Craig Berube<\/a> revealed that the team\u2019s leading scorer is dealing with a groin injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how long the timeline will be for him,\u201d Berube admitted. \u201cBut, you know, when he feels good enough to get on the ice and he goes out there and skates and it feels good, then, you know, I expect him to be back fairly quick then. But I\u2019m not sure when he\u2019s going to be on the ice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nylander initially sustained the injury on Dec. 28 and missed six games before returning on Jan. 10. He aggravated the injury early in Thursday\u2019s game in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Leafs still unsure on timeline for Nylander; Berube reveals it’s groin issue Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube revealed that he has no timeline for when winger William Nylander will be back on the ice after aggravating a groin injury last week. Nylander last played against the Golden Knights on Thursday, missing Saturday\u2019s win over the Jets and is ruled out Monday against the Wild. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Matthew Knies<\/a> missed the morning skate and is considered a game-time decision, per Berube. The big winger continues to be plagued by a lower-body injury, which forced him to miss three games in November.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s obviously bothering him a lot [and] for quite some time,\u201d said Berube. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t gotten really much better. Other than when he gets some breaks, you know, Christmastime and stuff, he comes back, it feels better, but it\u2019s an ongoing issue.\u201d<\/p>\n

Knies scored four goals in three games immediately after the Christmas break, but has been limited to one goal in the past nine games. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

With Knies absent, Scott Laughton<\/a> moved up to the second line beside Tavares on Monday morning. There is some built-in chemistry between the veterans, who both grew up in Oakville, Ont.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always laugh about the Oakville connection,\u201d Tavares said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly right,\u201d Laughton said with a grin when informed of that comment. \u201cJohnny\u2019s setting it up. He was all morning. So, yeah, we\u2019ll see what happens. We\u2019re proud Oakville guys, and still got a bunch of people there. So, yeah, we joke about it quite a bit.\u201d <\/p>\n

Laughton has spent most of the season as Toronto\u2019s fourth-line centre. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a lot more playmaking offence than maybe a lot of people give him credit for,\u201d Tavares stressed. \u201cHe plays a hard-nosed game, does a lot of little things really well, but he\u2019s got real soft hands, and has a real good understanding for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Johnny trained together in the summer and worked on a lot of things,\u201d Laughton noted. \u201cSo if that happens, then I\u2019m comfortable there for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughton has six goals and two assists in 30 games this season, but recorded a career-high 18 goals and 43 points in the 2022-23 season with the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With Knies struggling with nagging injury, Laughton joins Tavares at Leafs skate Matthew Knies is considered a game-time decision according to head coach Craig Berube, and as such Scott Laughton was skating alongside John Tavares in the morning skate. Good friends off of the ice, Tavares and Laughton joked about the ‘Oakville connection’ they share, with both players being native to the Ontario town. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Laughton is an emotional leader for the Leafs. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a heck of a competitor,\u201d said Tavares. \u201cHe plays a major role for us, does so many little things well, and just the life of the locker room. Any time you play with a guy like that, it\u2019s a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughton showed off his fiery nature once again on Saturday in Winnipeg. After Knies was whistled for high sticking Gabe Vilardi late in the third period, Laughton got in the face of the Jets forward. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to speak too much about it,\u201d Laughton said. \u201cIt happens quick. The game happens quick, and things happen. But, yeah, I thought it went off the top of the helmet. It\u2019s still technically a high stick but, yeah, it happens. And it\u2019s happened to me, for sure, in my career. But in the moment you\u2019re in the game and things happen, and you get fired up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughton then got into it with a Winnipeg fan after the Leafs scored an overtime win on Saturday night. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was pretty fired up at the end of the game just with that penalty,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd then I caught it out of the corner of my eye. He was kind of giving it to me. So, I was hoping for a nice overtime winner there so I could get him back. I stayed in that spot and made sure I was in a good position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tavares can only chuckle. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s just who he is, he\u2019s always got something up his sleeve,\u201d Tavares said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to look at him with a straight face because you just know there\u2019s something going on in the back of his mind that he\u2019s trying to get one up on someone … Just an amazing guy, amazing energy, and just a funny dude that competes like hell. We love him in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughton explains why he got into it with Winnipeg fan A late penalty to Matthew Knies on Saturday drew the ire of the Maple Leafs bench, most notably from Scott Laughton and head coach Craig Berube. After killing the penalty, the Leafs proceeded to beat the Jets in overtime, where Laughton gave it to some of the Winnipeg fans, while Berube shared his thoughts with the referees. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Laughton will not have to worry about opposition fans for the next little bit. Monday marks the start of five straight games at home for the Leafs. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been good at home all year,\u201d Laughton said. \u201cIt\u2019s always hard coming back from the West Coast, so we need to have a good first 20 minutes here and set ourselves up for not only this game but the homestand in general.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Leafs have the second-best home record in the league (16-5-5) behind only the Colorado Avalanche<\/a> (19-1-3). Toronto has won seven straight games at Scotiabank Arena. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust been feeling good about it,\u201d said McMann. \u201cFeeling good about the fans that are here, feeling good about the energy that this place has had. Definitely feeling comfortable at home. Had some extended road trips that we definitely had to battle through, but it\u2019s nice to have everything kind of in one spot. You get that familiarity of being at home and hopefully we can keep it rolling for this homestand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leafs Ice Chips: Home is where the wins are After a four game road trip, the Maple Leafs return home tonight to face one of the top teams in the NHL in the Wild. Toronto is 16-5-5 at home this season, and the Leafs are hoping to take advantage of their jam packed schedule ahead of the Olympic break. TSN’s Mark Masters has more. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Lines at Leafs morning skate: <\/p>\n

McMann – Matthews – Domi<\/p>\n

Maccelli – Tavares – Laughton<\/p>\n

Cowan – Roy – Robertson<\/p>\n

Lorentz – Quillan – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n

Rielly – Carlo<\/p>\n

McCabe – Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n

Benoit – Stecher<\/p>\n

Benning – Myers<\/p>\n

Woll starts<\/p>\n

Hildeby<\/p>\n

Stolarz <\/p>\n

Lines at Wild morning skate: <\/p>\n

Kaprizov-Hartman-Zuccarello<\/p>\n

Trenin-Yurov-Tarasenko<\/p>\n

Foligno-Haight-Hinostroza<\/p>\n

Jones-Sturm-Pitlick<\/p>\n

Hughes-Faber<\/p>\n

Middleton-Spurgeon<\/p>\n

Hunt-Jiricek\/Spacek<\/p>\n

Gustavsson starts <\/p>\n

Wallstedt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild skated at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. — Auston Matthews scored again on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":416774,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5106],"tags":[4759,33999,46361,5,20,5172,4,39765,66,31,32467,5171,34972],"class_list":{"0":"post-416773","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-toronto-maple-leafs","8":"tag-apple-news","9":"tag-auston-matthews-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8479318","10":"tag-bobby-mcmann-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8482259","11":"tag-hockey","12":"tag-maple-leafs","13":"tag-mapleleafs","14":"tag-nhl","15":"tag-quinn-hughes-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8480800","16":"tag-toronto","17":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs","18":"tag-toronto-maple-leafs-sports-hockey-team-team-nhl-api-10","19":"tag-torontomapleleafs","20":"tag-william-nylander-sports-hockey-player-player-nhl-api-8477939"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/115924288410789333","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=416773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/416773\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/416774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=416773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=416773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=416773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}