It was a thrilling Sunday morning for hockey fans as the United States edged out Canada in overtime to claim Olympic gold. For Toronto Maple Leafs supporters, there was a bright spot amidst the tension: Auston Matthews, their star player, captained Team USA to victory, showcasing his leadership on the world stage.
In the postgame press conference, Matthews was asked about the impact of this win on his return to Toronto. The moment was lightened by an interruption from teammates Jack and Quinn Hughes, who playfully chimed in.
“I’m trying to live in the moment, man. C’mon,” Matthews said with a grin.
Jack Hughes jumped in, “I think it doesn’t matter what anyone says now, Auston Matthews is a winner. Auston Matthews is an Olympic gold medalist.”
Quinn Hughes added, “Yeah, that’s what the media should be talking about. Auston Matthews led us to a championship.”
Matthews, clearly amused, concluded with, “I got nothing else to say,” drawing laughter from the room.
This marked Matthews' second stint as America's captain, and he delivered, finishing among the top three in points alongside the Hughes brothers, tallying three goals and four assists over six games. This performance was a significant leap from last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where he only managed three assists.
Matthews' stellar play was instrumental in securing the United States' first Olympic men's ice hockey gold since the historic 1980 victory. As the Hughes brothers aptly noted, Matthews is heading back to Toronto as a champion.
Despite a slow start to the NHL season, Matthews found his rhythm leading up to the Olympics. The 28-year-old has racked up 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games so far. With the Maple Leafs currently six points shy of a wild card spot, Matthews will need to channel his Olympic success into the remaining 25 games to push his team into the playoffs.
NHL action resumes this week with the Maple Leafs hitting the road in Florida. They'll face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, followed by a clash with the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Leafs return home on Saturday for a showdown against the Ottawa Senators in the ever-intense Battle of Ontario.