Max Domi Reveals Details of the Birthday Wish He Received that Helped Him End the Slump
Photo credit: STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE-USA TODAY SPORTS
Max Domi received special 30th birthday wish from the greatest hockey player of all time and used it as fuel to end his scoring drought on his birthday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a hard-fought overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, extending their win streak to five games since the 4 Nations Face-Off break.
The win was especially meaningful for hometown kid Max Domi, who celebrated his 30th birthday on game day and broke a long scoring slump that had kept him off the goal sheet since late December.
Before the game, Domi received a special birthday call from none other than the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky.
Domi shared the advice he received from Gretzky ahead of the game against the Penguins:
"He said make sure you shoot the puck I'll be watching tomorrow."
Domi also reflected on the significance of receiving a birthday call from the legend:
"A guy like that, Wayne Gretzky is the greatest player of all time and he's why I play hockey. To get a call like that, who is literally the best ever, on my birthday, was pretty special, even though it was a complete tap-in. Super grateful. He makes me so proud to be Canadian."
Domi has faced a frustrating season so far with the Maple Leafs, recording just 4 goals and 24 points in 52 games in the first year of his new contract.
He has endured long stretches without scoring, despite receiving advice from multiple people within the organization to shoot more. Even head coach Craig Berube has encouraged Domi to be less selfless with the puck and take more shots on goal.
Berube has repeatedly tried to spark Domi's performance, shaking up the lines and providing opportunities with top players like Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. However, the results have been inconsistent.
Domi remains a fan favorite and a key figure in the locker room, so a trade seems unlikely at this point. However, if he cannot elevate his game before the playoffs, he will surely see a reduced role moving forward.
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