Matthews shares his thoughts on his first training camp as a penalty killer
Heading into training camp this year, Sheldon Keefe revealed that he wanted to get Auston Matthews more involved on the team's penalty kill. While Keefe said Matthews would play more on the penalty kill, he also confirmed that it would depend on the game situation.
Matthews, along with the majority of Leaf regulars, will not be in the lineup tonight against Detroit in the Leafs' pre-season finale, but he did comment on Thursday about the time he has spent on the penalty kill so far and how he feels about his work there throughout the pre-season.
"Obviously, the object is just to keep the puck out of your net, but we've got some smart guys out there, some guys with some elite sticks, good anticipation and are able to pick pucks off and attack when necessary, when there's space. I think it's just going to be that happy medium of knowing when to attack and knowing when to just put the puck in deep and live to fight another day.
Like I said a couple weeks ago, it's a challenge and I think you've got your antenna up a bit more, especially when you've got other teams' top players out there. I've just gotta keep pushing. I find I'm maybe thinking a bit [more] out there on the penalty kill, just because it's not completely natural, but I think each game has gone better and better and it's been fun for me, so I've been having a blast [killing penalties]."
Like I said a couple weeks ago, it's a challenge and I think you've got your antenna up a bit more, especially when you've got other teams' top players out there. I've just gotta keep pushing. I find I'm maybe thinking a bit [more] out there on the penalty kill, just because it's not completely natural, but I think each game has gone better and better and it's been fun for me, so I've been having a blast [killing penalties]."
Having Matthews on the penalty kill is the next step for him in becoming a complete player and to continue to develop his game on the defensive side of the puck. He has already become a high-end two-way center in the NHL and having him on the penalty kill not only makes the Leafs more dangerous shorthanded, but also keeps him more involved in penalty-filled games, as opposed to having him idle on the bench. It could end up making a huge different in close game, if he can become an effective penalty killer and a legitimate "power kill" option by contributing a bit of additional offense when down a man.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 7 | 112 ANSWERS Matthews shares his thoughts on his first training camp as a penalty killer How many shorthanded goals do you think Matthews will score this year with the Leafs now that he's killing penalties? | ||
| None | 6 | 5.4 % |
| 1-2 | 33 | 29.5 % |
| 3-4 | 42 | 37.5 % |
| 5 or more | 31 | 27.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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