Off-ice chemistry helping drive Leafs top line

SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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The Toronto Maple Leafs (optional) and Seattle Kraken skated at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday. 

In the third period on Monday night, Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting simultaneously swung at a loose puck in front of the Columbus net. The puck went in, and both celebrated like they scored. 

"We were actually arguing about who put it in," Matthews told reporters afterwards. "We were arguing back and forth, jokingly, and then we were just like, 'Ah, whatever, it's a big goal for our team. Who cares?'"

BUNTS BANGS IT HOME! #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/HdYVkNk2Lr

Toronto's top line has been scoring a lot of big goals of late and the off-ice chemistry between Matthews and Bunting is a big reason why. 

"I heard the two just bickering back and forth," linemate Mitch Marner said of Monday's great goal debate. "It's kind of like a divorced couple, to be honest, sometimes with those two. It's funny."

"Having that type of banter and that type of chemistry is important," said coach Sheldon Keefe. "It makes you excited to play with a guy and when things are good things are usually really good because you're feeding off that energy. It also allows you to have difficult conversations and push and challenge each other at the same time."

I love Bunting and Matthews pic.twitter.com/SqoUD9dhEP

Matthews and Bunting have different backgrounds and took different paths to the National Hockey League. Matthews, a 24-year-old Arizona native, was the first-overall pick in 2016 and immediately made a splash with the Leafs. Bunting, a 26-year-old from Scarborough, Ont., is a late bloomer who only played 26 NHL games before this season. 

But the pair do share a tie to the desert. Bunting played for the