Imagine being a star player on a Canadian-based NHL team, whether it be the Canucks, Maple Leafs, Habs, whatever.
As such, imagine the huge backlash from your entire community when your team is swept in the first round of the playoffs, just two weeks after finishing the regular season with the league’s best record.
There will be nowhere to run, no where to hide. Not in Canada, a country where the sport of hockey is woven right into our national fabric.
Young Auston Matthews didn’t have to deal with that type of pressure when his ZSC Lions were punted out of the Swiss League playoffs in four games by SC Bern, the final blow coming with a 3-0 loss on Thursday night.