Morning Coffee: Matthews, Leafs continue to roll; Stanley Cup odds haven’t moved

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This has been a fun experience. 

When Domenic Padula told our group he was taking this week off, I threw my hat in the mix to stickhandle Morning Coffee while he was away. 

I knew it would be a fun challenge to test myself, and I wanted to see if I could make this column look and feel as easy as Dom has done for almost four years. 

I failed. 

This isn’t easy. It’s not plug-and-play. You need to have your finger on the pulse of the entire world of sports and find a different and unique way to present your information daily.

Two days in, I was kicking myself. I led with Auston Matthews on Monday, and I did the same on Tuesday. Suddenly, I was in jeopardy of becoming the Auston Matthews Network. All Matthews, all the time. 

It’s a trap into which Dom wouldn’t have fallen. He would’ve seen the calendar clearer than I did and would’ve found a different and better way to present it. 

I have a long way to go as a writer, and I think we could all take some inspiration from Mr. Padula and his work ethic. 

For now, though, I just appreciate that he trusted me with the keys to his car, the house he built and a slow cooker that would put your mother's to shame. 

This is the Morning Coffee for Friday, Feb. 23.

Death. Taxes. And Auston Matthews anytime goal. 

The 26-year-old did it again last night, scoring his 53rd of the season in a 7-3 statement victory by Toronto over the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights.

The goal by Matthews once again created a shift in the Hart Trophy market and, after sitting at 14-1 at this time last week, he now has the second shortest odds to win at +230. 

Matthews’ Hart odds seemingly creep lower and lower with every goal he scores. However, the fine folks at