{"id":355859,"date":"2025-12-19T16:56:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T16:56:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/355859\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T16:56:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T16:56:17","slug":"craig-berube-auston-matthews-call-out-toronto-maple-leafs-effort-in-shutout-loss-to-capitals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/355859\/","title":{"rendered":"Craig Berube, Auston Matthews call out Toronto Maple Leafs effort in shutout loss to Capitals"},"content":{"rendered":"

An unlikely comeback win over the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a> on Tuesday was not enough to ignite the Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> two nights later.<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs were shutout 4-0 by the Washington Capitals<\/a> on Thursday, being outshot 29-22 as they suffered their fourth defeat in their past six games.<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs were\u00a0blanked\u00a04-0 by the Washington Capitals<\/a> on Thursday, being outshot 29-22 as they suffered their fourth defeat in their past six games.<\/p>\n

Both head coach Craig Berube<\/a> and captain Auston Matthews<\/a> appeared to question the\u00a0team\u2019s\u00a0effort in the loss, which leaves Toronto at 15-13-5 on the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had power-play opportunities,\u201d Berube said. \u201cThe power play was not good. It\u2019s got to be a lot better. And to me, they played with more passion than we did tonight. That\u2019s what it boils down to. It looked to me like they had way more urgency in their game, more passion in their game. That\u2019s the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we just made it really easy for them,\u201d Matthews added. \u201cThe neutral zone was a highway for them to get through. We just made it so easy for them and they\u2019re obviously a skilled team, a lot of talent, a lot of speed. I don\u2019t think we put enough stress on them on both sides of the puck.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs could not convert on any of their five\u00a0power-play\u00a0opportunities against the\u00a0Capitals\u00a0as special teams continue to plague the club.<\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s power play success rate sits at just 14.1 per cent this season, ranking 31st in the NHL, just ahead of the Calgary Flames<\/a> (14\u00a0per cent). The team has allowed four shorthanded goals, including one Tuesday against Chicago, to the 12 they have scored on the power play.<\/p>\n

After Thursday\u2019s defeat, the Maple Leafs sit just one point out of last place in the Eastern Conference, four points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> in the crowded Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

On the opposite side Thursday, the Capitals improved to 19-11-4 and were thrilled with their effort against Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably our best game of the year from the whole collective group,\u201d goaltender Logan Thompson<\/a> said after recording the shutout. \u201cHonestly, a perfect game. \u2026 They have a lot of really high-talented personnel over there. Credit to the guys, that wasn\u2019t easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

All 16 teams in the Eastern Conference are .500 or better in points percentage this morning, while there are 7 teams in the Western Conference below that .500 points percentage mark.
Flip side to that in West, elite teams at top to be sure.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The Maple Leafs have made the playoffs in each of the past nine seasons, including last years in their first campaign with Berube behind the bench, finishing atop the Atlantic Division with a 52-26-4 record. <\/p>\n