Auston Matthews doesn't often bare his emotions in public. Neither does John Tavares or Morgan Rielly, the quiet, corporate faces of the Maple Leafs' leadership core.
That changed late in the Leafs' 3-2 comeback victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena. Matthews erupted after burying a late tying goal. The moment felt jarringly human and, as it turned out, essential.
In a season where the Maple Leafs have often searched for urgency, that flash of passion became the spark that pushed them from frustration to victory.
That rare show of fire cut through the Leafs' familiar blandness, helped swing a crucial game they were in danger of letting slip away, and injected life into a team that needed more than structure to win.