It would be a struggle for any team to lose a centre like Matthews, top three in the world when he’s healthy. And the Leafs survived as well as could be expected when Matthews wasn’t around in November, winning seven of nine. But that was primarily a product of league-best goaltending and A-plus defending that’s been hard to replicate recently amid Anthony Stolarz’s injury, some ill-fitting pieces on defence and the limitations of that centre-ice crew.
Stolarz more important than that bum, Matthews. Confirmed.