Published Feb 26, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Fitting that the centre-ice scoreboard briefly went dark during the second period on Thursday night at Amerant Bank Arena.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It was an apt, though not deliberate, comment on the Maple Leafs\u2019 season and where it\u2019s going.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Leafs couldn\u2019t recover after a horrendous first period, digging themselves into a three-goal hole, against the Florida Panthers and lost 5-1 in Sunrise.<\/p>\n Up in Boston, the Bruins, owners of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, beat the Columbus Blue Jackets to increase their lead over the Leafs to eight points.<\/p>\n The four-team group between the Leafs and Bruins now includes the Panthers who, like Toronto, have 63 points, but a better points percentage.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no time to take shifts off and periods off,\u201d coach Craig Berube told the media after the game. \u201cWe\u2019re not in that mode.\u00a0 It\u2019s always hard (to maintain confidence). It\u2019s my job to instill that confidence in our guys.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI stay confident. I know what these guys are capable of doing. I have to get it out of them.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s too late for that now, isn\u2019t it? We think so. The Leafs are one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL. There\u2019s no switch to be flipped.<\/p>\n John Tavares scored a power-play goal early in the third period, but the Leafs got nothing more past goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who had a solid night before Brad Marchand, with his second of the game, and Matthew Tkachuk scored into an empty Leafs net.<\/p>\n Our takeaways:<\/p>\n WHAT\u2019S MATTHEWS THINKING?<\/p>\n After failing to score for the sixth consecutive game, his longest drought of 2025-26, Leafs captain Auston Matthews<\/a> answered questions like it was the middle of the season and the team still had a believable shot of making the playoffs.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Matthews\u2019 time in Toronto has been marked by many positives, but also a reluctance or inability on his part to take honest stock of the situation at hand and his role, or lack thereof, in it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019d like to have more of a 60-minute effort,\u201d Matthews told the media afterward. \u201cI\u2019d say our start was the big issue tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s quite the revelation. But there was more.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we should have had the energy and the desperation that we need to start the game that we had in the second and third period,\u201d Matthews said, confirming what everyone in the building and watching at home saw.<\/p>\n Where is Matthews\u2019 concern level, considering the back-to-back losses coming out of the Olympic break and where the Leafs are in the standings?<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think \u2018concern\u2019 is the right word,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cI just think we need more desperation, more fire, especially to start games. We know the position we\u2019re in and we need to be a more desperate team.\u201d<\/p>\n If \u2018concern\u2019 isn\u2019t the right word, then what is?<\/p>\n The Leafs\u2019 next game, at home on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators, will be their 60th.<\/p>\n And, yet, Matthews still is talking about the need to play with fire and desperation.<\/p>\n Memo to the captain: If it hasn\u2019t happened yet, it\u2019s not going to.<\/p>\n Anyways, the Leafs don\u2019t have a firm grasp on the definition of urgency, for if they did, they might have played with some from the opening faceoff. The players love talking about what they need to do and then don\u2019t do it, or are unable to.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Either way, it was the worst first 20 minutes of the season for Toronto.<\/p>\n The Panthers built a 3-0 lead, outshot the Leafs 16-6 and had a 32-9 advantage in attempts. The loose, soft and slow Leafs didn\u2019t win battles and continuously gave up the puck, leading to two Florida goals.<\/p>\n Evan Rodrigues intercepted a William Nylander pass in the neutral zone and scored short-handed for the Panthers\u2019 third goal at 16:40. Rodrigues outshot all of the Leafs 7-6 in the first.<\/p>\n A Matthew Knies giveaway led to a Marchand goal at 3:18 before Carter Verhaeghe made it 2-0 on a power play at 5:13.<\/p>\n In the Leafs net, Joseph Woll was unable to bail out his teammates.<\/p>\n SELL, SELL, SELL<\/p>\n We\u2019ve written previously that general manager Brad Treliving has to start stocking up for the future \u2014 even if he\u2019s not around to see it after the season ends \u2014 in the days that remain before the March 6 NHL trade deadline.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The Leafs didn\u2019t need to give their GM any more reasons to start shipping players out, but they provided one against the Panthers.<\/p>\n The goal for Treliving shouldn\u2019t be working on new contracts for unrestricted free agents such as Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. It should be learning what can come back in a trade for one or both of them.<\/p>\n Ditto for players who are under contract beyond this season, such as Oliver Ekman-Larsson.<\/p>\n Of course, it should go without saying that Treliving has to get value in return in any trade he makes. Or, at least, what appears to be value today.<\/p>\n GET COWAN IN<\/p>\n Easton Cowan sat out for the fifth game in a row. There\u2019s absolutely no reason he should not be in the lineup against Ottawa. The rookie has to get into action and, with the Leafs in a tailspin, show some confidence in the kid and see what he can do.<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe his development is getting hurt,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI think he\u2019s improved as the year went along. I think he still has the swagger that\u2019s needed. He is a confident kid.<\/p>\n \u201cSaying that, he has to get in there and play, and that\u2019s our job to get him in there at some point.\u201d<\/p>\n Then do it. The Leafs, whether it\u2019s Berube or Treliving or both, are overthinking this and where Cowan fits in. The 20-year-old is capable.<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play Video<\/p>\n tkoshan@postmedia.com<\/p>\n X: @koshtorontosun<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n NHL mourns Ian ‘Scotty’ Morrison, former referee and Hall of Fame builder<\/p>\n![\"Joseph](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maple-Leafs-Panthers-Hockey-e1772161545180.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) defends a shot by Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Thursday, in Sunrise, Fla. Photo by Lynne Sladky \/The Associated PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.6.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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