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The captain probably won’t be bothered one way or another – with no goals in his last six games, he has more pressing concerns
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Published Feb 28, 2026 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 4 minute read
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Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews looks to pass the puck against the Colorado Avalanche. AP PhotoArticle content
A victory against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night would provide the Maple Leafs with a slim hope that they’re still in the playoff race.
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In our mind and so many others, the Leafs actually have no chance to recover properly and make a run at the post-season.
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Eight points out of a playoff spot and five teams between them and the Boston Bruins? It’s too much to ask.
We will say it was past time that Easton Cowan was put back in the lineup. He’ll play for the first time since Jan. 29 after sitting five games in a row.
We do have questions, though, and here are three we asked at the morning skate at Scotiabank Arena:
What kind of reception does captain Auston Matthews expect?
In their first home game since the Winter Olympics ended, the Leafs recognized the club’s three Olympians – Team USA’s Auston Matthews and Team Sweden’s William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson – during a TV timeout in the first period.
Matthews captained the United States to gold in beating Canada in overtime and, with a smile on his face, went to the White House to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
“I don’t know,” Matthews said in the morning. “We’ve got great fans. We’ve got passionate fans. I’m just focused on tonight’s game, getting ready for that, doing whatever I can to help our team win for a game that we desperately need.”
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As it turned out, a few boos for Matthews quickly were drowned by loud cheers as he was shown at the Leafs bench. Nylander and Ekman-Larsson both were greeted with cheers.
Matthews probably wouldn’t have been bothered one way or another. He has more pressing concerns, as he said, and that includes one goal in his past 10 games, with none in his past six.
If the Leafs have any shot at recovery, Matthews has to be more productive than he has been.
“We need to get our game back on track right away,” Matthews said. “We don’t have time to waste. It’s looking right ahead at what’s in front of us tonight, which is a game against the Sens, a divisional opponent. We need to be ready for that. I don’t think anybody should have a problem getting up for a game like that.”
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Gold medallist Auston Matthews #34 of Team United States celebrates after the medal ceremony for Men’s Ice Hockey following the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Photo by Elsa /Getty Images
What has led to such an increase in goals against?
Not only have the Leafs allowed 147 goals against at five-on-five, the most in the NHL before games on Saturday, they’re 27th in goals against overall, giving up an average of 3.42 a game.
The numbers last season: The Leafs allowed 136 goals against at five-on-five, third-fewest in the NHL. And they were ninth overall, allowing an average of 2.79 goals a game.
What gives?
Neither Matthews nor coach Craig Berube could provide a concise answer.
“That’s a good question,” Berube said. “I can run through a list of things that we’ve looked at and come up with. We made adjustments, and the adjustments we made have worked, and they’ve done a good job of handling that, the players.
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“It’s not always easy making adjustments in the season, systems-wise, but they’ve done a good job with it. We get on a good roll where things are good, but then it finds the back at our net too much. It’s a lot of mistakes, individual, puck play. It’s different things.
“It has been probably the biggest downfall in our game from last year.”
There’s no arguing that.
It’s not all on one player, but the absence of defensive stalwart Chris Tanev has hurt in a big way. So has the inconsistent goaltending of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, who will start against Ottawa. And the inability of the Leafs to play as cohesive five-man units has been an issue since the season opener.
Still, it’s hard to believe the Leafs already have given up more five-on-five goals than they did through all of 2024-25. That porous play is why they’re not going to make the playoffs.
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Whatever fight the Maple Leafs have left will be tested by Senators
Inside The Leafs: How many players could be traded at the deadline?
SIMMONS: Maple Leafs’ indifferent play not helping GM’s trade deadline aspirations
How is Scott Laughton handling his potentially tenuous future with the Leafs?
The veteran centre, headed for unrestricted free agency this summer will be an attractive piece before the NHL trade deadline on Friday.
“I didn’t think I’d probably be in this situation,” Laughton said. “It’s tough to think about, but at the same time, you have to come in and do a job and do it to the best of your ability.
“I want to be in the fight with these guys. You play for a year here, and I’ve said it before, I’ve loved my time here, and I’ve loved playing with these guys. I want to be in the fight with the guys and continue to move forward.”
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That’s a nice sentiment, but on the whole, Laughton hasn’t lived up to the player the Leafs thought they were getting when general manager Brad Treliving sent a first-round pick and prospect Nikita Grebenkin to the Philadelphia Flyers last March.
“I’ve been in the rumours for as long as I can remember in Philly,” Laughton said. “It’s always there and you try to clear your mind.
“It’s your life, it’s where you live, it’s where your family is, and it’s different when you have a family now.
“I’m just going to continue to try and play my game help these guys best I can, and hopefully I’m here.”
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Scott Laughton (24) celebrates with his team after their win against the Utah Mammoth in NHL hockey action in Toronto, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. Photo by Sammy Kogan /The Canadian Press
The projected Maple Leafs lineup:
FORWARDS
LW-C-RW
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
Bobby McMann-Nicolas Roy-Easton Cowan
Dakota Joshua-Scott Laughton-Nick Robertson
DEFENCEMEN
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher
Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
GOALIES
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz
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