WINNIPEG — Despite the healthy contingent of Toronto Maple Leafs fans inside the Canada Life Centre, the most fervent of Winnipeg Jets fans picked out public enemy number one on Saturday night: the man who continues to put the team on his back through his best stretch of the season.
Every time Auston Matthews touched the puck late in the game, boos rained down from a typically relentless crowd. The Leafs captain had already found the back of the net to open the Leafs’ scoring and begin their comeback. It was Matthews’ 10th goal in his last 11 games.
That’s partly why the boos didn’t shake him.
“They’re not booing for no reason,” Matthews said postgame.
Matthews again proved why those boos were justified in overtime. Despite being arguably the best shooter in hockey, Matthews held onto the puck long enough to shake Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and serve up a pass to Max Domi on a platter. Domi buried the pass past Hellebuyck, giving the Leafs a 4-3 win that at times looked in question.
It was a win they would not have gotten without Matthews.
It was also a win that ended an up-and-down road trip with five points out of a possible eight, during which Matthews himself logged five points. The Leafs now have points in 12 of their last 13 games, and it’s no surprise that throughout those 13 games, Matthews has completely turned around his game.
After a difficult stretch to start the season where Matthews looked hampered by injury, his return to prominence has come in concert with the Leafs’ revamped play. That was a prominent part of the story during Saturday’s win over the Jets.
So, it was a win, and (another) performance from Matthews, that reminded the hockey world that reports of his demise may have been greatly exaggerated.
“He’s been big time,” Bobby McMann, who had an important game-tying goal, said of Matthews. “Leading by example, doing all the little things, winning battles. You don’t get those points and those goals without winning battles, being competitive, and wanting to win games first and foremost. And that’s how he contributes, leading like that and scoring and generating a lot of chances.”
Against the Jets, Matthews led all Leafs forwards with 21:38 on the ice. He was again strong in the face-off circle, winning eight of 13 draws.
Winnipeg held a 3-1 lead in the third period that looked commanding, and the threat of a three-game losing streak for the Leafs felt very real. Matthews continued to lead the way, however, driving toward the Jets net and breaking up plays with his stick work.
The Leafs as an entire unit deserve credit for their resiliency at the end of a long road trip, but it feels like they’re getting more and more direction from their captain when they need it.
MATTHEWS WITH THE RESPONSE!@OREO | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/xuh4Vpq9lo
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 18, 2026
It’s difficult to imagine the Leafs standing any chance in the playoff fight without Matthews being at his best.
Matthews wasn’t the only Leaf who pushed his team forward in a frigid Winnipeg night, however. Dennis Hildeby stopped all seven of the shots he faced with the Jets on the power play, keeping the Leafs in the game. Hildeby’s play of late is why the Leafs are likely considering keeping three NHL goalies on their roster.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson also had one of his best games of the season: The defenceman had one goal, three points, was +4 and logged over 25 minutes of ice time, making you forget he’s 34 years old. Ekman-Larsson’s quick, heads-up play forced a Jets turnover in overtime. He sprung Matthews for the 2-of-1 that ended the game. It was the kind of performance that left no doubt why Ekman-Larsson made Sweden’s Olympic team and why he’s so crucial to the Leafs’ playoff hopes.
“He’s been good all year,” Leafs head coach Berube said of Ekman-Larsson. “He had a good game today, really good game from a points standpoint. But I think all year he’s been solid defensively, offensively, all the things we ask him to do, right? Playing with different partners most of the year, playing the right side, left side. He’s been just a solid player, a real good pro. He’s playing like a real pro right now. He gives us a lot every night, in my opinion.”
Still, during an ugly stretch through November and December, the Leafs needed Matthews, their captain and top player. The world’s best players take their teams on their backs when required. That wasn’t happening for Matthews, and Toronto’s playoff hopes looked dashed for good.
Everything has changed for the Leafs with Matthews’ resurgence. He’s showing the kind of passion and energy through games, especially during celebrations, that he didn’t have early in the year.
“(Matthews) is leading the ship, he’s the captain, and he’s our best player. So he’s laying on the line every night and leading the way,” Domi said.
Crucially, Matthews led the Leafs on Saturday with William Nylander out of the lineup due to an injury he suffered on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Saturday morning that Nylander would probably not play on Monday against the Minnesota Wild and did not know exactly how long he would be out.
Nylander’s absence is coupled with the Leafs’ other stars going through dry spells, offensively. John Tavares has two points in his last four games. Matthew Knies has two points in his last six games.
That means in the short term, Matthews will need to continue doing much of the heavy lifting offensively to get the Leafs back into a playoff position. If his performance against the Jets was any indication, he seems primed to do so.
“Every guy in this locker room believes (Matthews) is one of the best players in the world. We know that,” Domi said.
Another pertinent note on Matthews: The boos certainly don’t faze him as he’s been incredibly productive on the road. Matthews has logged 15 points in 20 road games he’s played, tied with Oliver Ekman-Larsson for first among all Leafs.
That matters. Even after this lengthy four-game road trip, the Maple Leafs will still spend the majority of the rest of their season on the road. Nineteen of the Leafs’ final 34 games won’t be at Scotiabank Arena. They’ll continue to need Matthews to produce offence as the travel adds up.
“(Matthews) was good all game. He was skating and attacking all game, he had his legs,” Berube said.
After Matthews finished his postgame media availability, the Leafs buzzed around him with their typical postgame routines. Still, the Leafs captain stood with his eyes transfixed, watching the final minutes of the Montreal Canadiens-Ottawa Senators game play out on a nearby television.
He didn’t say a word as his countryman Cole Caufield scored the overtime winner for the Canadiens. Matthews appeared focused solely on getting to where Caufield and the Canadiens are, five points clear of the Leafs and firmly in one of the three Atlantic Division playoff spots. The Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins also got points Saturday night, keeping the Leafs on the outside looking into the playoff picture.
To reach the postseason, the Leafs will need Matthews’ gaze to remain as firmly fixed as it was, on the ice and off of it.