The Toronto Maple Leafs staved off elimination on Wednesday, securing a 2-1 victory against Florida, which shifted the series back to Toronto.
The cause of the stir was an unusual display by a fan, who had splurged for an ice-level seat. This particular fan was sporting an Auston Matthews jersey, but unlike the sea of Leafs jerseys in the crowd, this one represented the Arizona Coyotes, bearing Matthews' name and number.
For those who may not know, Matthews hails from Arizona and has a year left on his contract, which pays him $11,640,000 annually. Numerous insiders have already voiced their belief that Matthews might leave when he becomes a free agent.
Matthews was the 1st overall pick in the 2016 draft, and under his tenure, the Leafs have gone the furthest they've ever been in the playoffs. Both the Leafs and their General Manager, Kyle Dubas, are hopeful that this playoff run might be enough to convince Matthews to remain with the Leafs Nation.
