Although both players down-played the importance of their first head-to-head meeting, Austen Matthews and Patrik Laine, the apparent future hall of famers that went one-two in this past July's NHL Entry Draft, put on a show at the MTS Centre last night that went from bad to worse or from rags to riches, depending on which team had you laughing by the end of the second period, or by the end of the third.
Although this was a game that the Jets had absolutely no business winning, they managed to pull together their second come-from-behind overtime win. They were sloppy for half the game. They left Hutchinson out to dry twice and for the fourth straight game they gave up four goals. If it weren't for Laine, the Toronto fan base and media would be securing the parade route.
As for the "competition" between the boys wonder? Matthews ended up getting only one point last night An assist on a nice feed to William Nylander on the power-play for Toronto's third goal.
Laine on the other hand? Well he kind of got the first of many hat tricks of his career. The third goal being the overtime winner. Again, it wasn't four goals, but it has been four goals in four games, including a game-tying goal and a game winner and an assist on a game-tying goal. So four goals and an assist each for Matthews and Laine thus far. Five points a piece. However Laine has a game-winning goal and has been more of a key player in his teams victories. On that tie-breaker alone, I give the edge to Laine and by his team beating Matthew's, I say Laine wins the first battle.
