'I Didn't See Any Other Option': Auston Matthews And Other Maple Leafs React To Captain's Michigan Attempt Against Lightning

Auston Matthews attempted a move on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning that he's tried a few times before.

During the third period, the Toronto Maple Leafs forward picked the puck up alongside the net, scooped it onto his stick, and attempted the patented 'Michigan' move on Jonas Johansson.

Of course, though, with the goaltender's 6-foot-5 frame, he was able to glance and get over to the other side of the net before Matthews was able to flip it into the goal.

"I didn't see any other option. The puck was rolling. It was the beginning of the period so the tape was fresh. I know, I almost had it," the Maple Leafs' captain said following their 5-3 win over the Lightning.

It's not the first time Matthews has attempted the move in his career, and it likely won't be the last. The 27-year-old attempted the move against the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 5, 2022.

"I kind of quit attempting those a couple years ago," he added, "but I just thought that was a reasonable attempt and had a pretty good opportunity there and it almost went in."

Matthews had two points in Toronto's win on Monday, including his 19th goal of the season. He's one goal away from his ninth 20-goal season, which he's done in every year of his NHL career.

If the Michigan had gone in, it would've been a nice piece of history to look back on.

"I was facing the wrong way," Matthew Knies, who had two goals in the game, said with a grin on Monday night. "I heard the crowd, and that's all I heard."

Joseph Woll was asked post-game how he as a goaltender prepares for those kinds of plays, especially when an opponent is behind the net.

"Ideally, if you have a good eye on the puck and you see him kind of scoop it, I think that's your cue to just get big and try to take up as much space," he said. "You can't really react to it when it's getting thrown into you like that."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube didn't seem to mind the attempt from Matthews. After all, even the Maple Leafs' captain believed it was the right move at the right time.

"There's a lot of guys that try it. And it's part of the game now," Berube said.

Related: "Nothing To Make Me Worry About That': Brad Treliving Says Auston Matthews And 4 Nations Face-Off Talk Can Wait

Matthews has been on a tear since returning from his upper-body injury on Jan. 4 against the Boston Bruins. He's scored in seven of his last nine games since coming back, totalling eight goals and 14 points in that span.

When he's feeling good, Matthews is one of the best players on the planet. And he certainly looked like one of the most dangerous players on the ice on Monday against the Lightning.

"It's been feeling better each night. I think just getting back into a rhythm, playing every night, I think that kind of helps (me) settle back into the season when you've had time off," Matthews said.

"But I just think, the way our line's been playing, just hounding pucks, trying to attack offensively, and being good in our own zone as well has been good. You just want to keep that momentum going."

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