Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews struggled when the stakes were at their highest, going goalless in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Mitch Marner, whose fingerprints were on two goals including Connor McDavid’s winner, won the border war against Auston Matthews, in a Boston barn where Toronto was eliminated three times in a first-round Game 7 series in which he and Matthews had little consolation of being their team’s leading scorer.

Questions have been raised about the level of care players are receiving at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but the Toronto Maple Leafs see no issue with Auston Matthews.

Meanwhile, back in Toronto where Matthews’ teammates were skating to stay fresh for the NHL season’s resumption on Saturday, Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube told hockey writers he’s been hands-off but said GM Brad Treliving had been in touch with Team USA regarding the superstar’s status.

Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube had a bit of a chuckle on Thursday when he was asked whether he would consider giving captain Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner a rest for Toronto’s first game, on Saturday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, following the 4 Nations Face-Off.

In many ways, the poster children for the return of best-on-best hockey have long been Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. The No. 1 picks from the 2015 and 2016 NHL drafts, respectively, McDavid and Matthews were teased with a version of it as teammates on the made-up Team North America youth squad at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Team USA captain Auston Matthews has had a quiet 4 Nations Face-Off so far. In the 4 Nations Face-Off final, Matthews faces an important career signpost.