from Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star,
He had a mere six shifts in the second period, with a total of 4:05 in ice time. For one interlude of more than five minutes, Matthews didn’t come over the boards at all. Little wonder he failed to get a shot on net in that frame.
Granted, the Leafs were killing off a penalty during a patch of that spell, but it’s hard to reckon what Babcock was thinking because he certainly didn’t maximize his No. 1 centre’s talents. And still Matthews led the Leafs with four shots and twice as many chances.
Matthews did not look like a happy young man on the bench, though that’s a subjective interpretation of body language. We can’t lip-read words exchanged between them. Babcock’s shift of fluid faith to the Mitch Marner line was conspicuous, however. Understandably so as Marner displayed a kinetic ferocity throughout the series....
If there is any breach of faith between Babcock and Matthews, it must be mended. If Babcock “lost” Matthews, he damn well better find him again.
“No,” insisted Matthews, when the question was put to him bluntly on clean-out day at the Air Canada Centre. “Our relationship’s fine. Obviously you guys can speculate all you want. But to me, I think it’s pointless.”
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