Tonight we find out whether Auston Matthews has developed into a big moment player

Heading into game seven tonight, no one has more pressure on them than Auston Matthews. When he was drafted first overall in the 2016 entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, many felt he was the face of a new beginning for this franchise. One that had endured many heart breaks and disappointing seasons. But so far, the 24-year-old has been unable to lead the Leafs out of the first round. Of course, the past failures do not all rest on the shoulders of Matthews, however, no-one on the team is under more pressure to win tonight.

Earlier this week, we officially saw Auston Matthews announced as a finalist for both the Hart (most valuable player as voted by writers) and Ted Lindsay (most outstanding player as voted by the players) Trophies. It is likely he will win both. Matthews has also won back-to-back Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophys for most regular season goals, and won the Calder Trophy in 2017 as the best rookie of the season. But theses trophies are based on the regular season. In order to be remembered as great, you have to have playoff success. Auston Matthews is the best player on this team, and arguably the best player in the league today. If he wants to be remembered as more than a regular season phenom, he needs to come up in big moments. Their is no bigger moment than game 7, Saturday night, at home in Toronto.

In his six seasons here in Toronto, Auston Matthews has accomplished a lot. But one thing he has not done is give Leaf fans that playoff moment. That moment where everyone remembers exactly where they were. A moment like Doug Gilmour gave us in 1993, see below.




Since entering the NHL, Matthews has played in four do-or-die games (three game 7's & one game 5 in the 2020 play-in series). Through those four games, Auston Matthews has recorded one assist. That assist came last season against the Montreal Canadiens late in the third period when the game was already out of reach. It is fair to say, Matthews has not produced in game seven situations.

It goes without saying, the Leafs will need more than just Matthews to win tonight. But since the Matthews-era began here in Toronto, a narrative has developed that this team can not get the job done in the biggest moments. As the best player on this team, Matthews is subject to the most accolades if they win, and criticism if they lose, fairly or unfairly. No-one is facing more pressure than number 34 is tonight.