Auston Matthews' recent goal celebration may have had a very direct motive behind it directed at the fans
Photo credit: James Guillory Imagn Images
Auston Matthews tied the game late against Chicago on Tuesday, but it was his celebration that stole the spotlight as fans tried to decipher what it meant.
Tuesday night saw the Leafs booed off the ice at the end of the first period and heard them throughout the game until they mustered a third-period comeback, something that Dakota Joshua was in full support of, given how the first 50 minutes of the game went.
Matthews' Celebration Steals Spotlight
It wasn't the Leafs' comeback, the pre-game ceremony honouring Joe Bowen, or even the booing that was the talk of the town after the game, though. It was the goal celebration from Auston Matthews on his tying goal with less than five minutes to play in the third.
After roofing a shot over Spencer Knight, Matthews turned towards the crowd, cupping his ear like Patrick Kane.
"The boo birds were coming down, rightfully so. I think after that first goal, the crowd really got into it, which is great, and then after the second one, the place was rocking," said Matthews about his celebration following the game.
Mixed Emotions Over Matthews' Celebration
Fans were unsure whether it was an attempt by the Leafs' captain to call out the boo-birds or to ask the crowd to get loud.
For TSN's Chris Johnston, it was more of an invitation for fans to get behind him -- as he explained on Thursday's edition of 'The Chris Johnston Show'.
"I viewed it more as an invitation, like, 'are you getting back on board with me?' That's just my interpretation. I don't think he's like, 'I hate the fans.' Somehow that that seems to be out there... I see that as an invitation, get back behind me. I've been hearing the criticism."
It's also not the first time the 28-year-old has used the celebration, as he and his childhood idol, Patrick Kane went back and forth with it during a game in Chicago in 2018.
Under a microscope thanks to the Leafs' struggles to begin the season, since he returned from injury at the end of November, Matthews has started to find his groove with 5 goals and 8 points in his last 9 games.
As Johnston said, Tuesday's goal could be a turning point for Matthews, with no better time for him to go on a run than the beginning of a three-game road trip.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 18 | 975 ANSWERS Auston Matthews' recent goal celebration may have had a very direct motive behind it directed at the fans What's your take on Auston Matthews' celebration? | ||
| Wish we saw that passion more | 392 | 40.2 % |
| No issues with it | 153 | 15.7 % |
| Love it, maybe the wrong time to use it though | 126 | 12.9 % |
| Didn't like it at all | 304 | 31.2 % |
| List of polls | ||