Auston Matthews Reacts to Early Exit by Fans in Game 5

It was certainly not the showing at home the Maple Leafs wanted, losing 6-1 to the Florida Panthersand putting themselves on the brink of elimination.

From top to bottom it was a dismal showing, and fans were not too happy with the team, so much in fact they decided to get an early night's sleep as many fans were seen heading for the exit before the game ended.

Who could blame them? It was the worst game Toronto played by far and they showed no signs of life at any point.

Auston Matthews knows this, and admitted that the team really had to reason to keep fans in the building:

A reason to stick around could realistically only be argued if the fans wanted to help Scotiabank's ushers and maintenance teams help clean the stands, because it felt like it was only them and the fans who showed up.

Though the shots were tied, it was a complete breakdown by Joseph Woll, who gave up three goals in ten minutes and look stymied by the Panthers all night.

But it's not like he had a lot of help either.

Throughout the first period, Florida consistently hounded Woll with shots and had Toronto's defense not only out of place, but seemingly out of breath. No one was skating hard, and their complacent clearing attempts were easily snuffed out.

It was a much more disciplined affair, which is a positive; and Nick Robertson ended Sergei Bobrovsky's shutout streak with a late third period marker.

Robertson was playing in his first game for the Maple Leafs since Game 2 against Ottawa, and already put in a better showing than that of Bobby McMann; who he replaced in the lineup.

It was pretty much the only bright spot, and while Matthews can admit the team played poorly, he's just as guilty as anyone.

He hasn't scored since Game 6 in Ottawa, he's shown a lack of urgency, and it seems he has a mental block when he goes to shoot. Whatever changed, changed for the worse.

This should have been a game that defined him as a clutch playoff performer, able to fire back after struggling so much and a raucous fanbase behind him.

But it was the most abject failure of this year's postseason, and made things infinitely more difficult as the Maple Leafs try to take the next two games before Florida manages to seal the deal.