After going 2-for-4 in Sunday’s Game 6 against the Seattle Mariners, the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was feeling pumped. “I was born ready,” said the MLB first baseman following his exploits at the Rogers Centre and forcing Game 7 in the American League Championship Series. But as he walked into the Blue Jays’ home ground on Monday for the winner-takes-all game, no one expected him to show up in the city’s NHL team’s stripes. And least of all, in Auston Matthews‘ jersey.

Why? Because the Maple Leafs’ star’s Game 7 record isn’t something to cry home about. Matthews and his team’s poor track record in Game 7s has become sort of an urban legend among hockey fans, and given the chance, they’d prefer to omit his name altogether in any Game 7 situation. Naturally, Guerrero Jr.’s choice of fit ahead of the big match raised a lot of eyebrows.

B/R Open Ice took to X  to share the stats of Auston’s Game 7s with the Maple Leafs: “Auston Matthews record in Game 7s in case you were wondering,” the social media update highlighted how the Leafs have lost all their Game 7s in their last seven playoff appearances. The only year that’s absent from the list, 2023, was when the Leafs lost the Conference semis to the Florida Panthers (the series was decided in 5 games). Goes without saying that the Blue Jays star’s game-day clothes caught everyone’s attention. But why would Guerrero Jr. opt for this particular outfit?

“Maybe he wants to reverse juju?” B/R Open Ice’s X post pondered whether Vladdy was trying to prove it beyond a shred of doubt that his in-city comrade wasn’t all about Game 7 bad luck. But the MLB community wasn’t covinced. Spittin’ Chiclets’ Ryan Whitney was also astonished by seeing Auston Matthews’ name in the Rogers Centre. “Talk about the wrong jersey to win before a game 7,” Whitney wrote on X, underscoring that he was going to bet on the Mariners just because of Guerrero Jr.’s OOTD. But the baseman wasn’t keen about losing.

Thanks to George Springer’s home run clearing the wall in left-center field, the Blue Jays won Game 7 8-2, and secured the series 4-3. With the emphatic win, the Jays have now qualified for World Series for the first time since 1993. But the win wasn’t guaranteed. Even in the seventh innining, the Mariners were leading 3-1. But then, coach Dan Wilson decided to swap ace Bryan Woo for Eduard Bazardo, a decision which almost immediately backfired and shifted the momentum in the Blue Jays’ favor.

Bazardo almost served Springer a treat on the plate, and the Blue Jays’ outfielder didn’t fumble. He caught the ball in the sweet spot with his swing, but it was only when left fielder Randy Arozarena gave up his chase of the ball that the home crowd of 44,770 fans filled the arena with loud cheers. They had done it. The Blue Jays will now take on the LA Didgers in the World Series on Friday.

Auston Matthews, on the other hand, has a long road ahead of him before he can celebrate like his cross-sport colleague from Toronto.

Auston Matthews’ playoff luck could improve with a page from Guerrero Jr.’s book

The Maple Leafs haven’t been in their best form in recent years. Last season, they finished the regular-season at the top of the division and qialified for the playoffs as the second seed from the Eastern Conferenc. In the first round, they defeated in-state arch-rivals, the Ottawa Senators to advance to the next stage of the playoffs. But the defending champions, the Panthers, swiftly put an end to Toronto’s pursuit to win the Lord Stanley. The fans were enraged, and rumors of an Auston Matthews trade started doing the rounds.

However, some fans quickly pointed out that the captain wasn’t the only one responsible for the team’s downfall and made it clear that they wouldn’t want to see Matthews anywhere else other than playing for the Maple Leafs. The faith of the fans seemed to have hit homw with Matthews and the 28-year-old already has bagged 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in 6 games in the 2025-26 season so far. Thanks to his on-ice aggression, the Maple Leafs sit in third place of he Atlantic Division, one spot ahead of the reigning champs, and 3 points behind the Red Wings.

Last month, Auston was voted one of the most popular stars innthe NHL. But can the captain honor the fans’ sentiment? Toronto is coming off a 4-3 defeat to the Seattle Kraken at home. They have a metting with the New Jersey Devils next. Can Matthews & Co. return to their winning ways? What do you reckon?