The Toronto Maple Leafs squandered a huge opportunity to take the lead in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Round series against the Florida Panthers, falling in embarrassing fashion by a score of 6-1 at home. As the series shifts back to Florida for an elimination Game 6, head coach Craig Berube delivered an honest three-word statement on one of Auston Matthews‘ most important teammates.
Toronto finds itself between a rock and a hard place once again in the NHL postseason. It just seems whenever things look the best for the Maple Leafs, they are about to start their descent. After taking a 2-0 series lead and getting off to a hot start in Game 3, leading 2-0 early in the first period, the Leafs are now 2-3 in the series and have scored just 1 goal in their last two outings, while conceding 8.
It’s certainly looking gloomy in Toronto as they depart for Sunrise ahead of an elimination matchup with the Panthers, who appear to hold all the momentum on their side. It will be an uphill battle for Matthews and the Leafs, but they can only go up after their disastrous collapse in Game 5 in front of a jam-packed Scotiabank Arena, where many fans walked away in utter disappointment before the final horn.
The sixth meeting between the reigning champs in the NHL and the franchise seeking its first Stanley Cup since 1967 will take place at Amerant Bank Arena, where the Cats will step onto the ice determined to send the Maple Leafs into a downward spiral of uncertainty heading into the offseason.
Anthony Stolarz #41 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets set for play to resume against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1st period in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on October 12, 2024.The Maple Leafs defeated the Penguins 4-2.
Berube faces a big question mark in net after Joseph Woll was pulled during Game 5 due to his struggles, and Matt Murray didn’t provide any more security in the crease. Anthony Stolarz was seen back on the ice during practices, and while fans are hopeful about a potential return from their starting goaltender, Berube’s three-word comment did little to fuel that dream scenario.
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“I doubt it,” Berube said about the possibility of Stolarz making the trip to South Florida, as reported by TSN‘s insider Chris Johnston.
A loss is a loss
Though fans in The Six have little to cling to after the disasterclass put on by Toronto in Game 5, Berube made one thing clear: the disparity on the scoreboard still only counts as a single loss.
“A loss is a loss. If we would have lost 2-1 and it was a close game, would it really matter today? We got beat,” Berube firmly said during his media availability on Thursday morning.
Matthews’ slump extends
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has yet to record his first career goal in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs—an awfully concerning stat for a nine-year NHL veteran who’s won the Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard Trophy three times, yet has failed to showcase his goalscoring prowess on the biggest stage.
Head coach Craig Berube of the Toronto Maple Leafs addresses the media after the Leafs played against the Chicago Blackhawks in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 2, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Blackhawks 4-1.
While Matthews’ absence in the scoreboard is noteworthy, the Leafs’ struggles are not exclusive to their captain. In case it wasn’t made evident with the all-around terrible outing in Game 5, Berube made sure to remind the fans and media of that after the game.
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“I’m not going to look at a certain group of players, it’s everybody,” Berube added. “Myself included. There was mistakes, a lot of mistakes. Mistakes happen in games but it’s the way they happened tonight that’s disappointing more than anything.”
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The Leafs and Cats will meet on May 16 at Amerant Bank Arena with Florida being one win away from reaching its third consecutive Conference Final, while Toronto hopes to live to see another day and hopefully move on to their first Conference Final since 2002.
