Auston Matthews calls out his team after disappointing loss
The Toronto Maple Leafs dropped a disappointing game to the New Jersey Devils and Auston Matthews shared his thoughts on his team's performance.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for a playoff run, and are at an interesting juncture with their play right now. They had an impressive win over the Edmonton Oilers earlier this week, however, their game took a 180-degree turn against the New Jersey Devils last night, as they dropped the game 6-3.
After the game, Leafs star Auston Matthews had some choice words for his teammates, wanting everyone to have more of a killer instinct in the second and third periods.
Auston Matthews: I think just a little bit of an immature game from us tonight at times. And I just have to have that killer instinct a little bit more, especially when you have a good first period like that. I wanna come out and stay on the hunt there, and then the second, I thought we kind of took a step back instead of a step forward.
Matthews was able to score a goal in the effort, continuing his incredible pace for the year and trying to lead his team out of the poor play. However, his play wasn't enough to get the job done, and it is clear that any success the Leafs have will have to come from all lines on the ice.
The Leafs are trying to tie down their game before heading into the playoffs this year. This year will be an interesting one, as the Leafs' roster has a new look compared to previous years. They are tougher, and some players are finding their groove at the right time, like Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi. They have also toughened up on the back end with Edmundson and McCabe.
As the playoffs approach, the Leafs will need to use these upcoming games to polish off their playstyle in order to make a difference this year. They have already been toying with the lineup with Marner out, trying to figure out the best combination of players.
POLL |
Do you agree with Auston Matthews' calling out his teammates? |
Yes | 552 | 89.8 % |
No | 63 | 10.2 % |
List of polls |
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