NHL analyst Jackie Redmond predicts that Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will have a strong showing in Game 6 regardless of the result.

In what was considered by some to be a legacy-defining game for him and the Core Four, Matthews had a night to forget. He finished with a -4 rating, including an errant pass on the power play that led to a shorthanded goal from Dylan Cozens that proved to be the dagger. Now the pressure falls back on Matthews and his teammates in a pivotal Game 6 with another chance to show that he can elevate his game when it matters.

Redmond made an appearance on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Thursday, where she felt that Game 6 would be a big showing for Matthews.

“ Because of how the last game went, it’s gotta be 34. It’s gotta be Auston Matthews,” she said. “ Auston Matthews needs to come into this game, and he needs to put the team on his back. Have shifts like we saw from Connor McDavid against the LA Kings.”

McDavid, of course, is once again having an exceptional performance against the Los Angeles Kings in their first-round matchup, which now sees the Edmonton Oilers up 3-2. This included a dominant effort in Game 1 where he nearly willed the Oilers to a dramatic comeback with four points, only for it to be denied with 40 seconds left in regulation. Edmonton’s captain is known for these types of performances on the regular, and that’s why he is considered the best in the world right now.

If Matthews wants to be in that conversation, he, too, must show more often than not that he can take over a game when it matters most. And there will certainly be motivation because of the aforementioned uncharacteristic effort in Game 5 on Tuesday.

“ I  think Auston Matthews is gonna have a big game tonight, win or lose, for the Leafs. I really do,” Redmond said. “He’s used to the pressure, and he is used to the criticism of the Leafs not getting it done. But it’s not often that Auston Matthews’ game is getting, I think, more criticized than Mitch Marner’s game was in Game 5. That’s not usually the way it goes.  Matthews, I think, avoids a lot of that in terms of just individual performance.”

The table is set for a pivotal Game 6 where the Leafs once again have a chance to close this series out and punch their ticket to the next round. Redmond noted that the Senators feel that they now have a sense of confidence that they can get the series tied up and force a Game 7.

“I really hope I don’t live to regret this, but I’m gonna say that the Leafs are going to show us that they are capable of having some killer instinct and getting it done,” she said. “I think the Leafs are going to win a close one, maybe 3-2. In regulation, though.”

You can watch the full segment with Redmond below: