'Like Tapering A Swimmer': Why Auston Matthews' Regular Season Production Doesn't Matter Going Into Playoffs Against Senators

He's had a down year production-wise, with just 33 goals this season. That, though, doesn't defeat the fact that Matthews has played exceptionally well in other areas of the ice throughout this year.

According to NaturalStatTrick, the 27-year-old led the Maple Leafs in Corsi-for (52.12) and expected goals-for (53.19) percentage at five-on-five this season. He also had the most blocked shots among Toronto's forwards (89), with the next forward, Steven Lorentz, 34 blocks behind Matthews.

"For me, his play this year, I get his goals have dropped off, not from a lack of attempts or opportunities, it just doesn't always go in. But he played a great 200-foot game for us this year," Craig Berube said Saturday.

"I think both sides of the puck, penalty kill, he understands, and for me, he's a great teammate, leadership-wise. I think he handles the situations that need to be handled on a daily basis around the team."

Players tend to turn their game up a notch entering the playoffs. The physicality, intensity, and speed change drastically.

"You go through a lot of ups and downs to put yourself in this position," Matthews said ahead of Game 1 on Sunday.

"I feel like we've put in the work, we've prepared. Got to go out there and execute, take it one game at a time, one shift at a time, and compete, play as a team for one another, and just go from there."

The forward had one goal in six games before finishing off the season with three goals in as many games. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believes Matthews is tapering, a phrase primarily used by swimmers who conserve energy for a big swim meet.

For Matthews, he's saving up his energy for the postseason.

"I think Matthews, to me, it's almost like tapering a swimmer," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast.

"The thing about Matthews was, there were a lot of issues earlier this year. One of the things I heard was that surgery wouldn't solve the problem, it was a muscle thing, at least for the one he went to Germany for, and the hope was that it would heal and he would be ready for when it matters.

"And I think the Maple Leafs are counting on that and that Matthews is properly tapered for now."

What version of Matthews we see in the playoffs remains to be seen. But clearly, through this recent stretch of games, he's turned his play up. Now is the most important time of year, and the forward is ready for everything.

Even the Toronto traffic, which Matthews said "gets worse" with the weather warming up and the playoffs getting underway.

"There's definitely a different buzz to [the city of Toronto for the postseason]. It's always exciting."