Guentzel on Matthews’ hot tournament: ‘You guys put a lot of heat on him for no reason’
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews doesn’t have the easiest job on the planet. When things aren’t going right, it’s hard to ignore the noise.
Being the captain in one of the NHL’s biggest markets means extra scrutiny. And when that same man gets the gig for the United States Olympic men’s hockey team, it’s hard to escape the chatter.
When Matthews was given the C ahead of the tournament, many questioned whether he was the right leader for the team. Whether who wears the letter or not matters on an all-star team is up for debate, but fans across social media have made sure to keep it a hot topic.
Matthews entered the USA’s 5-1 victory over Germany with a goal and an assist. But his two-goal, three-point performance against Germany was a big reason the Americans were able to overpower their opponents and score at least five goals for the third consecutive game.
It was a big night – and his teammates appreciated it.
“He’s been great all tournament. You guys put a lot of heat on him for no reason,” Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel told reporters following Sunday’s game. “He’s just an unbelievable player and plays in all situations.
Jake Guentzel on Auston Matthews: "He’s been great all tournament. You guys put a lot of heat on him for no reason. He’s just an unbelievable player and he plays in all situations."
Matthews has been criticized often for his lack of finish in big games. Matthews failed to register a goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, and has just four goals in his past 18 playoff games. Given his contract – he’s in the second year of a four-year deal worth $13.25 million per campaign – fans will definitely have a lot to say about his performance when things don’t go well. Matthews has still gotten plenty of playoff points, but his inability to score in elimination games has been widely discussed. Still, many back the three-time Rocket Richard winner.
“The bottom line is he is a goal scorer,” NHL Network analyst E.J. Hradek said on the Daily Faceoff USA post-game show. “He’s a darn good one, and one of the very, very best since he came into the league, if not the best, and so he needs to score goals. Got a couple today, and hopefully that carries forward for him.”
The United States will get two days off before playing either Sweden or Latvia in the quarterfinal on Wednesday.
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