"I think they are playing really strong hockey. They look like they're playing a strong, collective team game. Auston is heating up a little bit now, and the goaltending has been good. In general, teams go through these ups and downs, and right now, they are on an upswing. Usually, when that happens, you are getting production from the guys you expect to get production from, but you are also usually getting a strong team game with everybody contributing. We know it is going to be a battle."
"He is such a good shooter. He is an elusive guy. You try not to give him clean, easy looks, which is difficult because he is an elusive player who finds the scoring areas. We all know his shot. At the same time, he is a big, strong kid. He can hold onto pucks and make plays. He is always a challenge, whether he is hot or not. But right now, he is heating up, and we are expecting him to be a challenge for us."
"Beating the top team in the league in Colorado is a really big positive. Finding a way to win in Winnipeg when you're tired is a big accomplishment for our group, to make it a really good road trip. Overall, there is a lot of belief in this room among our group of guys that we can really go up against anybody."
The Maple Leafs are on an upswing, exhibiting strong collective play, improving goaltending and a scoring surge from Auston Matthews. The Wild recognize the difficulty of shutting down Matthews because of his shot, elusiveness, puck protection and playmaking. The matchup is expected to be a battle. Opposing players note Matthews' scoring as a key factor. The Leafs aim to extend road-trip momentum into a five-game homestand after wins in Colorado and Winnipeg. The team emphasizes belief, focus and taking the homestand one game at a time. Coaches expect balanced contributions across the lineup during the homestand.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]