Toronto Maple Leafs: Calm Before the Auston Matthews

The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped Game 4 and walk into Friday’s game tied 2-2 in the series, but the Washington Capitals should be worried as Auston Matthews is starting to heat up again.

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs have been through an emotional roller coaster. After Game 4, the city was loud and spirits were up, as the Leafs have a series lead for the first time in 13 years.

However, the emotions took a turn to the dark side, as the Boys in Blue dropped Game 4 by a score of 5-4. Some fans are angry, some are concerned.

Some fans are even playing the violin music from Titanic in their minds. If you fit any of these descriptions, I’ll give you three reasons why you should settle down a bit:

1. The series is tied. If you want to go down the cliché route, it’s now a best of three.
2. Even though the Leafs didn’t play their best, it was a one goal hockey game. They fell early 4-1 in the beginning of the first period, but were able to battle back.
3. Auston Matthews

To quote the creepy traveler from 30 Days of Night, board your windows, try to hide, they’re coming. And when I say they, I mean he. And when I say he, I mean Auston Matthews.

There’s one thing to take note of when it comes to Matthews, and that is he is a tad streaky. The term, “streaky”, is usually seen as bad in the NHL.

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There were periods of games this season where Matthews scored in bunches, and periods where he didn’t. The 2016 first overall pick had two three-game stretches scoring four goals and a five-game stretch where he scored six at the end of the season. Despite not scoring however, his compete level and defensive abilities have never faltered.

Going into Game 5 on Friday, Matthews has two goals in two games. Not really, “jump out of your seat and scream”, worthy but if history repeats itself, fans are in for a stunning performance.

Fans have seen Matthews score in huge moments when the team needed it the most. Flash back to the Centennial Classic, St. Patrick’s Night, or even the Home Opener. We’ve seen Matthews be a leader on the ice and step up when they need him to.

Although I’m banking on Matthews going on a goal streak, it’s going to take more than that to win this series. When #34 scored that goal to make it 4-3, the crowd got back into it, the team got back into it.

If the Leafs can channel that momentum, Friday’s game will look a whole lot different. Going to our good friends Moneypuck.com, the Leafs’ odds of winning this series has dropped to 43 percent.

However, if this is the team we know they are and Matthews is the player we know he is, it’ll only be a matter of time before we see tweets like this:

It’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs everyone, anything can happen.

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With the series now heading back to Washington tied at 2-2, what are you predicting moving forwards? Further, what type of impact are you expecting from Matthews? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.