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The Toronto Maple Leafs are playing their worst hockey of the season and that was magnified on Saturday when they fell 4-2 to a surging Ottawa Senators club looking to stake their claim into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Leafs haven't won a game in regulation in March and are 1-4-2 in their last six games.
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke after the game about the latest loss and what has been missing from the club's game lately.
"I think the margins in this one have been really small in the last couple of games. But I think, just details, details in our game, I think, you know, haven't quite been there," Matthews said. "I's on us to figure that out and to just be better. We've got to get it through our heads at all these games, especially some of the teams we're playing here. All these games are going to be playoff-like games. There's teams that are, you know, fighting for their lives. They're trying to make a push. They're desperate teams like the one we played tonight. So, you know, we've got to wrap our heads around that and just be better all around as a team."
Matthews spoke further about the club's lack of details in the game. His goal set up by teammate Max Domi and the play of the Senators.
Q: Why do you think the details might have been there earlier in the season and then maybe over the last little bit it's kind of...?
Well, I mean, it's never going to be perfect throughout the year, but I think when there's slippage like that, it's just trying to get back on track as quickly as possible. And, you know, for whatever reason, it just hasn't, hasn't kind of clicked, hasn't really gotten back on track for us. So, you know, I think it's just important for us to just take a look in the mirror at the reset button. We've got an important week coming up with a lot of games. You know, we've just got to, you know, push through whatever the adversity is that we're going through and just kind of recommit to one another and just be better. It's an important week. There's nothing we can change now about this past one. And we know the areas and the details that we need to play with to be a better team all around.
Q: Is that on both ends, Auston?
Definitely. Definitely. Both ends, special teams, everything. I mean, it's everything.
How are you feeling, Auston? Obviously, you've got the rest of this morning. Where are your energy levels at? How are you feeling about your game?
Yeah, fine. It's that point in the season where, you know, everybody's grinding through something right now. So, yeah, that is what it is. Just got to keep pushing and keep, you know, trying to do what I can do, compete out there, and just try to keep generating opportunities.
Q: Max (Domi) doesn't get an assist on your goal, but he obviously is a big part of the pressure there to turn the puck over. What did you like about playing with him tonight?
Yeah, I always enjoyed playing with him. He's a tough guy to play against with the puck. He's uses the ice extremely well. You know, I found, yeah, pretty good chemistry anytime we've, you know, been able to play together. It seems to click pretty well. So, you know, he made some good plays tonight. I mean, I see that play. It's not necessarily a skill play. It's more of an effort-based play. But I thought he was really moving his feet all night tonight for us.
Q: Any concern for Scott Laughton right now? Going into the game like that, too.
I didn't see him. I didn't see it.
Q; What did you think about Laughton getting into that fight?
Yeah, I mean, he's the, you know, he's the guy that likes to play at the net, so, you know, pretty great to see that. Obviously, you know, he's a newer guy around here, but a lot of us know him from different camps, being from Toronto, stuff like that. So, I think he's fitting really well here. I mean, it's always exciting to see a guy do that.
Q: What have you noticed when they're the Sens this season, it looks like maybe they're ready to take a step? You got to see Brady up close with the 4 Nations. What do you see him from them this year?
Yeah, they're a hungry team. I mean, they've been through some ups and downs And, you know, a lot of guys that, you know, kind of came into the league, you know, early on, a lot of high skill and stuff. They're, you know, their game's matured, and they're playing well as a team right now. So, obviously, they're making a big push at the moment.
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The Leafs haven't won a game in regulation in March and are 1-4-2 in their last six games.
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Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke after the game about the latest loss and what has been missing from the club's game lately.
"I think the margins in this one have been really small in the last couple of games. But I think, just details, details in our game, I think, you know, haven't quite been there," Matthews said. "I's on us to figure that out and to just be better. We've got to get it through our heads at all these games, especially some of the teams we're playing here. All these games are going to be playoff-like games. There's teams that are, you know, fighting for their lives. They're trying to make a push. They're desperate teams like the one we played tonight. So, you know, we've got to wrap our heads around that and just be better all around as a team."
Matthews spoke further about the club's lack of details in the game. His goal set up by teammate Max Domi and the play of the Senators.
Q: Why do you think the details might have been there earlier in the season and then maybe over the last little bit it's kind of...?
Well, I mean, it's never going to be perfect throughout the year, but I think when there's slippage like that, it's just trying to get back on track as quickly as possible. And, you know, for whatever reason, it just hasn't, hasn't kind of clicked, hasn't really gotten back on track for us. So, you know, I think it's just important for us to just take a look in the mirror at the reset button. We've got an important week coming up with a lot of games. You know, we've just got to, you know, push through whatever the adversity is that we're going through and just kind of recommit to one another and just be better. It's an important week. There's nothing we can change now about this past one. And we know the areas and the details that we need to play with to be a better team all around.
Q: Is that on both ends, Auston?
Definitely. Definitely. Both ends, special teams, everything. I mean, it's everything.
How are you feeling, Auston? Obviously, you've got the rest of this morning. Where are your energy levels at? How are you feeling about your game?
Yeah, fine. It's that point in the season where, you know, everybody's grinding through something right now. So, yeah, that is what it is. Just got to keep pushing and keep, you know, trying to do what I can do, compete out there, and just try to keep generating opportunities.
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Report: Surgery Has 'Never Been On The Table' For Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews As He Works Through Upper-Body InjuryMatthews travelled with the team to Long Island and was on the ice Thursday morning. Q: Max (Domi) doesn't get an assist on your goal, but he obviously is a big part of the pressure there to turn the puck over. What did you like about playing with him tonight?
Yeah, I always enjoyed playing with him. He's a tough guy to play against with the puck. He's uses the ice extremely well. You know, I found, yeah, pretty good chemistry anytime we've, you know, been able to play together. It seems to click pretty well. So, you know, he made some good plays tonight. I mean, I see that play. It's not necessarily a skill play. It's more of an effort-based play. But I thought he was really moving his feet all night tonight for us.
Q: Any concern for Scott Laughton right now? Going into the game like that, too.
I didn't see him. I didn't see it.
Q; What did you think about Laughton getting into that fight?
Yeah, I mean, he's the, you know, he's the guy that likes to play at the net, so, you know, pretty great to see that. Obviously, you know, he's a newer guy around here, but a lot of us know him from different camps, being from Toronto, stuff like that. So, I think he's fitting really well here. I mean, it's always exciting to see a guy do that.
Q: What have you noticed when they're the Sens this season, it looks like maybe they're ready to take a step? You got to see Brady up close with the 4 Nations. What do you see him from them this year?
Yeah, they're a hungry team. I mean, they've been through some ups and downs And, you know, a lot of guys that, you know, kind of came into the league, you know, early on, a lot of high skill and stuff. They're, you know, their game's matured, and they're playing well as a team right now. So, obviously, they're making a big push at the moment.
Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
Continue reading...
