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If Auston Matthews' comments are any indication, the Leafs may have found themselves a new top line
Photo credit: MSN
It might have taken some time for Max Domi to really acclimate himself to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but over the last few weeks, the free agent signee has turned his game around at the most opportune time for his club and a lot of that has to do with Sheldon Keefe putting him in a position to succeed.
Domi has 3 goals and 11 assists over his last 16 games while honing a plus-7 rating, which is a far cry from his previous 52 games where he just totalled 5 goals and 25 points with a minus-2 rating. With Mitch Marner nursing a high-ankle sprain, Domi has been forced into a more offensive role and he hasn't shied away one bit.
In their first game without Marner, Domi scored a goal and added an assist against Montreal and then in their most recent victory, he amassed 4 assists in what was a season-high in points for the 29-year-old in a single game. His recent success hasn't gone unnoticed either as head coach Sheldon Keefe had some rave reviews:
"Those guys were feeling it tonight. Just made plays. Max was outstanding. I thought Auston put on a clinic through most of the game here tonight. And Bert was battling through something here today with illness, and even he, once he got going, was good."
Matthews was asked about Domi's performance as well and he went straight to the point, highlighting how smart and hard working his new line-mate is, making sure to mention that he certainly felt the chemistry with his new linemates:
"[Domi is] such a smart player out there. He makes the game easy. He can make plays. He moves into space really well and just communicates a lot out there. So, makes it easy on myself and Bert to move into space and try to find each other. I really liked the chemistry tonight."
Keefe and Matthews weren't the only ones in a complimentary mood as Domi dished it right back, talking about how it is playing with an elite talent like Matthews.
"He's probably the best player in the world right now, as far as I'm concerned. I'm just having fun getting the puck to him as much as I can."
While we anxiously await Marner's return, the Maple Leafs seemed to have finally found a line that works for both Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi and it seems like the missing link was Matthews all along.
With a couple tough games upcoming against Edmonton and Carolina, the new makeshift top line is going to need to flash their brilliance once more to maintain their position in the Atlantic Division and keep the surging Tampa Bay Lightning at bay.
| POLL | ||
MARS 21 | 539 ANSWERS If Auston Matthews' comments are any indication, the Leafs may have found themselves a new top line Should the Leafs attempt to get Max Domi some powerplay with Matthews, given their newfound chemistry? | ||
| Yes | 512 | 95 % |
| No | 27 | 5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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