The Toronto Maple Leafs were met with a nearly empty Scotiabank Arena by the end of Game 5, as fans departed early during their 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers.
“I don’t think we gave them much reason to stick around,” captain Auston Matthews said following Wednesday’s defeat, according to Sportsnet.
Fans booed the Maple Leafs after falling behind 4-0 in the second period. Toronto was outplayed from the start, putting their season at risk heading into Friday’s game.
“There’s nothing we can do now,” Matthews said. “We’ve just got to put our best foot forward, look in the mirror, and just be better. That’s really it.”
Matthews emphasized the need for team-wide improvement.
“I think everybody’s got to look in the mirror, like I said. Myself included. Everybody wants to be better, everybody wants to, obviously, win. We’ve been a great road team all season long. There’s always going to be belief in this group and confidence in this group from what we’ve built off throughout the year. … It’s got to be our best game of the year.”
The pressure has mounted on Matthews after Toronto lost consecutive games in Florida. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner hasn’t scored in the second round and has only three goals in his last 21 playoff games dating back to 2023.
“I don’t look at myself as a one-dimensional player,” Matthews said. “If I’m not scoring, I’m trying to do all the other little things that make the team successful, that make myself successful, and just try to be an all-around, complete player.”
Matthews finished Game 5 with a minus-2 rating, six shots, two blocks, and one hit in 18:06 of ice time.
He has recorded three points in the series and eight points through 11 playoff games this spring.
