Auston Matthews 9th Goal of 2017-2018

I was watching this one live. I fell asleep before the end. The Maple Leafs fell in the shark tank, 3-2.

NHL 18: Game 7, First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs: Bruins at Maple Leafs

This was a back and forth series with each teams trading blow game by game. No team won consecutive games in the series.

Get to Know Adrian Kempe

My buddy MJ is a huge Los Angeles Kings fan. Adrian Kempe is 21 years old, and the talk of the Los Angeles hockey organization right now. He recorded a hat trick the other night, and got his first career shootout goal the next game. He's going to be the talk of the Kings for a while; because it appears this youngster can really play. 

Here's a scouting report:

Observations:

February 2017 - The 20-year old Kempe finally got into his first NHL action in mid-February, with a call-up to the Kings. Through his first six NHL games, Kempe has scored two assists and has shown some of the reasons that he is highly regarded in the Kings organization. In his first game, Kempe flashed his speed to create an excellent chance on a breakaway. However, much like his season in Ontario, with all of the positives also come some negatives, as he still will need to find more consistency to get to the next level. This is evident in the coaches decision on playing time which in the first six games has fluctuated from a high of 15:18 to a low of 8:30. In his last two games, Kempe has gotten some powerplay time, and he had an assist on the powerplay. If Kempe can build chemistry with Kopitar and find better consistency, he might start producing sooner rather than later. Philip Kamhi

October 2016 - Following a strong training camp, Kempe impressed the Kings enough to earn an extended audition with the NHL club. He got into four preseason games, and although he was scoreless, his speed was effective and he did not look out of place. He was given an opportunity on scoring lines, even playing in place of Kopitar on the top line and playing with Pearson and Toffoli. It is evident that the Kings view him as a top-six player. Having impressed Kings brass with his play in training camp and preseason, he will likely get into his first NHL games soon. Philip Kamhi

September 2016 – Things really slowed down for Kempe in the second half of his season with the Reign, he scored 20 points in his first 32 games (0.63 points per game), but only eight more in the final 23 games (0.35 points per game). You can call it inconsistency, but when he was on his game speed and skill is evident. Make no mistake, this was a young rookie (19-years old), who just came to North America and is still adjusting to the game. He will make adjustments, and is likely to develop more consistency. Look for a strong training camp from Kempe, but it's unlikely that he sees more than a cup of coffee this season (barring significant NHL injuries). Philip Kamhi

January 2016 – The 19-year-old Kempe has had a decent first half of his rookie pro season in North America. Through 32 games with the Reign, he had 20 points. Kempe also represented Sweden in the U20 WJC, where he had eight points in seven games and was awarded the Top 3 Player on Team. After returning to the Reign in January, Kempe has not produced as much as he did earlier, with only four points in 11 games. Kempe will need to dig in, but this is likely part of the learning experience. Philip Kamhi

May 2015 - While Kempe's SHL icetime almost doubled, his production didn't follow suit. His average time on ice jumped from 8:27 (2013-14) to 15:14, but his points per game barely rose (0.24 to 0.34). However, the Swede is only 19 and did enjoy an excellent WJC. The 6-2 right winger already possesses above-average NHL speed, but we'll see where his hands are at this fall in the AHL. Sheng Peng

February 2014 – Kempe has an excellent frame that moves extremely well chasing down loose pucks with an aggressive pursuit often initiating contact and engaging in puck battles with great success. His north-south style of game combines well with his strong skating stride as this power forward puts defenders on their heels with his unrelenting attack. Kempe drives the net hard and shows good puck handling ability, especially in the dirty areas of the rink. Brendan Ross


Fantasy Outlook: B-

The 2014 first-rounder is a pretty sure bet to be an NHLer but may not own high upside.

Keep an eye out for more Kempe reports; and more player profiles of the guys around hockey who catch our eye.

I (Indirectly) asked a New Jersey Devils Scout Some Questions

Here were his brief answers.






So, this scout would take Auston Matthews over Connor McDavid; which is pretty interesting. Basically he knocks McDavid's supporting cast which is easy to do right now. He scouted the 2-1 Penguins win in Pittsburgh the night before I got these answers.

Oilers win shocker over Dallas in Edmonton, 5-4!

[Oilers 5, Stars 4]

The Oilers won a shocker in Edmonton over the Stars tonight. Connor McDavid got the Oilers on the board with his 5th goal of the season.

This was after losing a 2-1 Overtime heartbreaker in Pittsburgh.

Auston Matthews' 8th Goal of 2017-2018

It was a wrister. It got the Maple Leafs on the board. The Leafs lost at home 6-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Senators beat Maple Leafs on Hockey Night

[Senators 6, Maple Leafs 3]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

The Maple Leafs got downed by the Senators on Hockey Night in Canada, but the bigger story was the latest odds for teams to win the Stanley Cup; with Toronto being #1 on the list at 8/1.

I'd smash that prop bet for the Ducks. Were I a gambler, of course. pic.twitter.com/b21AbaABVM

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 20, 2017

Now for the highlight of the game.

Auston Matthews 7th goal of the year:


There were some good reads on the internet in regards to Matthews over on ESPN, and Down Goes Brown.

Maple Leafs move to 6-1 with win over Red Wings

[Maple Leafs 6, Red Wings 3]

[Pension Plan Puppets]

The Maple Leafs just keep on rolling. They added goals from Nazem Kadri, Zach Hyman, Auston Matthews, Connor Brown, Morgan Rielly, and William Nylander to win the game 6-3.

Here's Auston Matthews' 6th goal of the season, and 46th of his career:


That extended the Maple Leafs lead to 3-1. Matthews didn't register a point last evening in the Maple Leafs 2-0 statement win in Washington. It was the first game this season in which he didn't record one. Tonight, he not only hit the bullseye for the goal, but added a late assist.

The Leafs are off to an excellent start:

The @MapleLeafs have won six of their first seven games in a season for the seventh time in their 100-year franchise history. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/3Dlw6Y1eZo

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 19, 2017

Auston Matthews beats the Canadiens with Two Goals on Hockey Night in Canada

[Event Summary]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

Auston Matthews was the entire show tonight in Montreal; a Hockey Night in Canada game. The Maple Leafs - who run things like the Runnin' Rebels on ice - won 4-3 in overtime to improve to 4-1-0 got two goals from their star to win the game, including an overtime winner.

The Maple Leafs also had goals from Marleau and James van Riemsdyk.

Matthews' 4th goal of the season:


Auston Matthews' 5th goal of the season, and GWG:


*A. Matthews (2 G, 0 A)
**J. Drouin (MTL) (1 G, 1 A)
***J. Petry (MTL) (1 G, 0 A)

This was Mike Babcock's 600th career win. It snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Canadiens for the Leafs.

Here are the Goal leaders after a couple of weeks, as of tonight:

New Jersey Devils 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 3

[Event Summary]

I watched a lot of this game while watching baseball. Tapping into iPad hockey is good.


There's Auston Matthews third goal this season. It came on a two-man advantage.

The Maple Leafs finally were slowed down by a surprise opponent in the Devils. It was a bunch of no-namers who scored and Cory Schneider was honestly the story in this one, saving 47 shots on a night the Maple Leafs put up 50 total.

*P. Zacha (NJD) (2 G, 0 A)
**M. Wood (NJD) (2 G, 0 A)
***C. Schneider (NJD) (47 Saves, .940%)

Notables:

New Jersey
J. Bratt 1 A
W. Butcher 2 A, +2
A. Henrique 2 A, +2, 5 SOG
M. Wood 2 G
P. Zacha 2 G


Toronto
A. Matthews 1 G, 4 SOG
P. Marleau 1 A
J. van Riemsdyk 1 G
D. Moore 1 G
N. Zaitsev 1 A, +1
W. Nylander 1 A

AUSTON MATTHEWS WITH THE OT GAME WINNER

[Event Summary]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

This was Matthews' second of the season. The Maple Leafs are now 3-0-0.

*A. Matthews (1 G, 1 A)
**C. Brown (1 G, 0 A)
***R. Panik (CHI)

Notables:
Toronto
N. Zaitsev 1 G, 1 A, +2
J. van Riemsdyk 1 G
F. Andersen 18 S, 3 GA

Chicago
J. Toews 1 G
J. Rutta 1 G, 1 A

Quote:

"I just walked in and tried to fake a pass, get (Forsberg) leaning a bit and snuck it by him," Matthews said.
"I thought we showed a lot of poise being able to crawl back into it," he added. "As the game went on we got better and better and that's the way you want to play."

Jack Eichel Goal #1

The first of the 2017 campaign for Eichel, in a 6-3 loss to the Islanders. He's my keeper first rounder in my fantasy league. Need Eichel to be a gem.

Connor McPerfect: McDavid records first Hat-Trick in Oilers Opener History

[Box Score]

Connor McDavid is something else, man. He is the talk of the sports world even for fringe hockey fans at this point. Even ESPN has to give alerts on the guy after what he did on opening night in the NHL season at Rogers Center.

Here's a look at his three goals:

Matthews and Leafs get Opening Night Route 7-2 in Winnipeg

[Box Score]
[Pension Plan Puppets]

Matthews goal #1:


Matthews had two assists in addition to the goal. Patrick Marleau added two goals on five shots in his debut.

Mitchell Marner had a goal and an assist. James van Riemsdyk had a goal and two assists. It was a phenomenal opener for the Maple Leafs on the road and a statement performance.