"Team USA captain Auston Matthews had a solid Olympic debut on Thursday night against Latvia. The Toronto Maple Leafs star scored a power play goal in the third period to lift the American side to a 5-1 rout. Matthews, who had been the subject of some mild scrutiny heading into the Olympics, was sharp overall. He played a solid two-way game, leading the USA's second line with Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild."
"The line had its chances throughout the game, but it was Team USA's fourth line that did most of the damage. Only a team as deep as the United States could have Brock Nelson, Jack Hughes, and J.T. Miller as fourth liners. It was Nelson who ended up castigating the Latvian side, scoring twice to seal the win. The win was a fantastic start for Matthews."
"Beyond allegiances to specific nations at the Olympics, Maple Leafs fans should be encouraged to see Auston Matthews play well. The Maple Leafs captain has been dealing with a bit of a roller-coaster season. That's why seeing him excel in Milano-Cortina is something he can build on for the remainder of the NHL season. While the Leafs' playoff hopes remain uncertain at best, fans want to see Matthews return to his former Hart Trophy self."
Auston Matthews had a solid Olympic debut, scoring a third-period power-play goal to lift Team USA to a 5-1 win over Latvia. Matthews played a sharp two-way game while centering the second line with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy. Team USA's fourth line of Brock Nelson, Jack Hughes, and J.T. Miller provided much of the offense, with Nelson scoring twice to seal the victory. The Americans will next face Denmark on Valentine's Day. Matthews' strong performance offers encouragement to Toronto Maple Leafs fans as he works to regain peak form during a roller-coaster season.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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