Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
Winnipeg Jets crowd and Auston Matthews boos lit up Canada Life Centre on Saturday.
Matthews got showered every time he touched the puck, then smiled afterward and said, «They're not booing for no reason.»
He's right, and he basically tipped his cap to the building.
For Jets fans, the boos weren't random theatre, they were targeted.
Matthews scored and set up Max Domi's overtime winner in Toronto's 4-3 comeback, so the jeers had a scoreboard attached.
This one also had that weird Winnipeg twist where it sounds like a home game until it doesn't.
Sportsnet noted Leafs fans swallowed up a huge chunk of seats, and the noise swung hard both ways all night.
Auston Matthews boos proved Winnipeg Jets still matter
As a Jets fan, I loved the honesty, because it confirmed your building can still get under a star's skin.
Matthews didn't call it disrespect, he called it deserved.
The frustration is Winnipeg deserved better than the ending.
The Jets led 3-1 early in the third, then watched it leak away, and Scott Arniel said it was the kind of game they have to finish.
That's where the booing becomes bigger than Matthews.
It's a reminder that Canada Life Centre is at its best when it's demanding, not polite, and it's demanding because it expects points.
Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo, and Nino Niederreiter gave Winnipeg enough offense to win, and Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves.
And honestly, the «villain» angle is a compliment.
If you're booing Matthews that loudly, it means you still see him as the threat who can flip your night with one curl-and-whip release.
Winnipeg's next milestone is simple, keep that edge, but cash it into regulation wins.
Because a loud barn is great, and it's even better when the other captain leaves muttering instead of smiling.
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Canucks lost more than just a game in Oilers humiliation
Canucks lost more than just a game in Oilers humiliation
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 18|97 ANSWERS Auston Matthews has a message for Winnipeg Jets fans Did Auston Matthews' comment validate the Winnipeg Jets crowd on Saturday? | ||
| Yes validated | 43 | 44.3 % |
| Just talk | 46 | 47.4 % |
| Too much booing | 8 | 8.2 % |
| List of polls | ||