Team USA got here home golden from the Olympics. As players are welcomed back, they’re being celebrated for his or her Olympic performances. Auston Matthews has been celebrated by his teammates, and he should expect cheers when he plays at home for the primary time despite playing for a Canadian franchise.
He probably didn’t expect a cheer on the road, though, but that’s what happened when the Toronto Maple Leafs faced the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, in keeping with Jay Recher.
Through the first TV timeout, the Lightning played a salute to their Olympians, showing the player, their country, and a few highlights. Players comparable to Jake Guentzel and Brandon Hagel were honored. There was also a big ovation for coach Jon Cooper, who’s away from the team following the death of his father.
After the montage accomplished, the camera found the Olympians on the ice or the bench, as fans continued to cheer. The last person shown on the video board was Matthews. The Lightning fans gave him a brief ovation, and he acknowledged them by cracking a smile.
While Matthews got here home with a gold medal, his team didn’t leave Tampa Bay with a win. The Lightning took a 4-2 victory over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. Matthews registered one point in the sport, getting an assist on a Matthew Knies goal late within the third period.
The Leafs are actually 27-22-9 on the 12 months, sitting in seventh within the Atlantic Division. Also they are six points out of a playoff spot, and want to show things around quickly if Matthews wants so as to add Stanley Cup champion beside gold medal winner on his resume.
His team returns to the ice on Thursday night, visiting the Florida Panthers in a fast turnaround after Wednesday’s loss.