Auston Matthews in the spotlight of the Maple Leafs

Three years after being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Auston Matthews arrived in Toronto on Monday night.

Although given every chance of doing so, the Leafs have not lost. The intimidating Bruins have complied with all Canadian laws regarding assault and unlawful assault. The Leafs special teams have arrived. The pace has slowed to return to that of mid-November, from mid-May. There was no final collapse.

The most unusual of all, Matthews was the offensive star. In Toronto, the sun did not set on Monday. It was day all night.

Judging by his normal level, Matthews has not posted an outstanding track record – a goal and a help.

But according to his playoff criteria, Darryl Sittler was unleashed when the goalie pads were not as big as couch cushions.

It was only the second time Matthews had scored more than one point in the playoffs. It was his first goal in this series. And – by far the most important – he did not receive one, not two, but three "real estate" coach Mike Babcock.

"Very good legs", "very good defense" and a "very good" in his game. Babcock does not just give these "real goods" (unless you ask him the slightest question about any subject and at any time).

Expressing himself to the monotonous 2x regular speed that all NHL players use now, Matthews played super after.

"It's nice to have one, of course," he said. "It's only another level when you have one in series."

Despite the real efforts to crush banality, it was difficult to credit. Matthews must know that he has work to do in the field of hearts and minds. Monday was a huge help.

(Even a title as accomplished as Babcock wrote: "He's a proud guy … he has probably relieved a lot of pressure.")

At this point, Matthews should be the big favorite of this team. But you would have a hard time placing him in the top three.

Mitch Marner is newer and more cuddly. John Tavares is older and more genealogical. Morgan Rielly is more articulate and more mixed. Frederik Andersen never says anything, it's the most reliable way to get people to like you. Matthews is the guy who is good when it does not matter, but who can still be great later. He is the superstar of the reserve in Toronto. Nobody has criticized his talent, but many of them are still in this place with regard to his ability to force the problem.

The irony is that there is no hockey city on the continent where it is easier to make people fall in love.

We could see everyone at the Scotiabank Arena doing it Monday night. It's just a match and a narrow result of 3-2. Nobody in blue and white has not done anything curious. But nobody either did not do anything stupid or completely stupid. In Toronto, the "non-fool" is considered a Hall of Fame potential.

In their usual fall time (that is, keeping a lead at any point in the third period), the Leafs stiffened. They looked together, while Boston looked puzzled.

Asked later about what he liked about the Toronto play in the last period, Rielly said, "Well. We won."

When it became clear on half a dozen faces that it was not big enough, Rielly began throwing a spiel.

But he is right.

In other hockey cities, people are looking for something special for their heroes. In Toronto, win from time to time and you get a plate at least.

It's the city that treats Mats Sundin as if it was Bobby Orr, only a little more Swedish.

It was the club that created a "Legends Row" and, after placing 14 players, announced that it was complete.

The team has been around for 100 years. Fourteen does not seem much.

Do you think the Montreal Canadiens would stop at age 14? They would make open calls in the colleges of sculptors.

That's what Matthews is facing. Its window to reach the grandeur of Toronto is more like a tear in the fabric of space-time. If it ever takes possession of it, it is not about this generation. It's just about everyone who goes back there forever.

First, score a few goals in a playoff series. Second, win a series in the playoffs. After that, it's negotiable. For the moment.

The Leafs have a 2-1 lead in the series. They took over the advantage at home. After the suspension of Nazem Kadri, the series seems to have escaped the brutality of the second match.

It is assumed that this means that it will be nails slashing and open war in the fourth match. It is certainly hard to imagine the Bruins passive two consecutive games. They can not help but be who they are. At this point, how ugly it becomes to the officials.

But if this is the new level of violence that everyone has agreed to play, it could quickly become the Matthews series.

The question is: how much does it want to be good?

Well, really good or in fact, honest with God, something bigger than Toronto's lower bar?