Auston Matthews Criticizes Maple Leafs' Lack of Detail After Latest Loss
Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Ottawa Senators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in last night's game in Toronto, leading captain Auston Matthews to call out his teammates for their lack of attention to detail.
In a reversal of what is typically the script when the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs get together, the Senators continued their drive toward the postseason for the first time since 2017 by defeating the Leafs 4-2 in front of a stunned full house at Scotiabank Arena.
Despite taking a 2-1 lead over the Senators, the Leafs allowed their divisional foes to score three unanswered goals en route to their 4-2 win.
Auston Matthews Admits Team Needs To Refocus
Following the disappointing loss that dropped the Leafs to 1-4-2 in their last 7 games, captain Auston Matthews called out the rest of his teammates for their lack of attention to detail:
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. It'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.
But I think, just details, details in our game, I think, you know, haven't quite been there. It'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.
When asked about his lack of goal-scoring and the team's inability to withstand their opponents and keep leads, the captain tried to offer some solace to fans for their rocky stretch:
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.
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.
Matthews hasn't been his usual scoring self this year with only 24 goals in 51 games after having scored 69 goals last year to claim his third Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer; leading to speculation he's still dealing with an injury.
While it's a bit strange to hear Matthews talk about getting through things with only a few weeks left in the season, and that reset button needs to be pushed sooner than later.
It was not a good showing against their Provincial rivals, and it's a worrying sign for what may come for a team whose future depends on a strong playoff run.
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MARS 16 | 655 ANSWERS Auston Matthews Criticizes Maple Leafs' Lack of Detail After Latest Loss Was Auston Matthews the right choice to be named Leafs captain? | ||
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| No | 395 | 60.3 % |
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