Maple Leafs' Martin not worried about Matthews' pointless skid

Auston Matthews has gone seven games without collecting a point, but the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't hitting the panic button.

Whether it's a case of hitting the "rookie wall," or simply a standard drought that all players go through in an 82-game season, the rookie phenom's most intimidating teammate says he isn't concerned.

“Auston has been - I don’t want to say carrying us all year - but he’s scored a lot of goals for this team,” Matt Martin told The Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. “He’s got 30-plus on the season, he’s been a catalyst offensively all year."

Despite the seven-game slide, Matthews still ranks eighth in the NHL and second among all rookies in goals (31).

The 19-year-old is tied with teammate Mitch Marner for second in points (55) among those in the rookie class. He leads the Leafs in goals and is also tied with Marner for the club lead in points.

Toronto won four of the seven games in which Matthews failed to register a point, and vaulted back into the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with a shutout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

Martin potted a rare goal in the victory, his fifth of the season and first since Jan. 21.

“We’re getting offensive production from other guys when (Matthews isn't) scoring," Martin said. "He’s still playing well. The puck’s not going for him. We have to find ways to win. I’m confident he’ll get back on track.”