from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

This is the time the best players come out and play. The way Kirill Kaprizov has emerged during the season and now in the post-season in Minnesota. The best players flex their muscles. They do what others can’t do. They take over games and, if they can, they take over series. This is the Leafs’ eighth series-clinching game of Matthews’ time in Toronto.

The scorecard on this is not a good one: They are 0-and-7 in possible elimination games. In those seven games, Matthews has one goal and two assists. In four of those games, he had no points at all. Now it’s his turn to grab his piece of the Hart and show it off Thursday night. At loud and louder Amalie Arena, a modern-day Chicago Stadium without the grunge. Where he’ll likely be playing against the defensive wizards Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli. Where not everything is set up in his favour.

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