"[Even when I wasn't scoring], I was still creating chances, still out there playing and I feel like every game there's little things that kind of go unseen that I think I'm improving on," Matthews said. "So you just got to keep working at it, got to keep having fun."
Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello was never concerned.
"We're extremely pleased [with Matthews]," Lamoriello told the Toronto Sun. "I don't like comparing people to other people, but there are a lot of exceptional players who go through [scoring slumps]. I've had 500-goal scorers who have gone through it. But in Auston's case, he's been playing excellent defensively and had excellent progressive success on the systematic part of the game and on faceoffs. Remember, he's up against the best and had the best playing against him."
Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock used video footage of Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings to help bring out the best in the 19-year-old.
"It's good in life to go through some tough times, it just depends on how you handle it and how hard you battle to get through it and when you come through the other side, you're better for it so it's a challenge for him," Babcock said. "He just has to keep grinding and keep getting better defensively, have the puck more, and get better in the faceoff circle. He needs to be a guy who can play in all situations."
Babcock was asked if Matthews is one of the most mature teenage players he's ever coached.
"I coached a lot of great players over the years but he's a player with huge upside, he has a confidence about him," Babcock said. "But it doesn't matter who you are. When things don't go right and you experience momentary doubt, you need to just push through it and it's always brighter on the other side."
Despite the recent slide, Laine remains tied for second in the League with 12 goals in 24 games. He scored 17 goals in 46 games playing for Tappara in Liiga, Finland's top league, in 2015-16.