The captain probably won\u2019t be bothered one way or another \u2013 with no goals in his last six games, he has more pressing concerns<\/p>\n
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Published Feb 28, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0hours 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 A victory against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night would provide the Maple Leafs with a slim hope that they\u2019re still in the playoff race.<\/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 In our mind and so many others, the Leafs actually have no chance to recover properly and make a run at the post-season.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Eight points out of a playoff spot and five teams between them and the Boston Bruins? It\u2019s too much to ask.<\/p>\n We will say it was past time that Easton Cowan was put back in the lineup<\/a>. He\u2019ll play for the first time since Jan. 29 after sitting five games in a row.<\/p>\n We do have questions, though, and here are three we asked at the morning skate at Scotiabank Arena:<\/p>\n What kind of reception does captain Auston Matthews<\/a> expect?<\/p>\n In their first home game since the Winter Olympics ended, the Leafs recognized the club\u2019s three Olympians \u2013 Team USA\u2019s Auston Matthews<\/a> and Team Sweden\u2019s William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson \u2013 during a TV timeout in the first period.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Matthews said in the morning. \u201cWe\u2019ve got great fans. We\u2019ve got passionate fans. I\u2019m just focused on tonight\u2019s game, getting ready for that, doing whatever I can to help our team win for a game that we desperately need.\u201d<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Matthews probably wouldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n If the Leafs have any shot at recovery, Matthews has to be more productive than he has been.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get our game back on track right away,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cWe don\u2019t have time to waste. It\u2019s looking right ahead at what\u2019s in front of us tonight, which is a game against the Sens, a divisional opponent. We need to be ready for that. I don\u2019t think anybody should have a problem getting up for a game like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n What has led to such an increase in goals against?<\/p>\n Not only have the Leafs allowed 147 goals against at five-on-five, the most in the NHL before games on Saturday, they\u2019re 27th in goals against overall, giving up an average of 3.42 a game.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n What gives?<\/p>\n Neither Matthews nor coach Craig Berube could provide a concise answer.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good question,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI can run through a list of things that we\u2019ve looked at and come up with. We made adjustments, and the adjustments we made have worked, and they\u2019ve done a good job of handling that, the players.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not always easy making adjustments in the season, systems-wise, but they\u2019ve 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\u2019s a lot of mistakes, individual, puck play. It\u2019s different things.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been probably the biggest downfall in our game from last year.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no arguing that.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Still, it\u2019s 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\u2019re not going to make the playoffs.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Whatever fight the Maple Leafs have left will be tested by Senators<\/p>\n <\/a> Inside The Leafs: How many players could be traded at the deadline?<\/p>\n <\/a> SIMMONS: Maple Leafs’ indifferent play not helping GM’s trade deadline aspirations<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n How is Scott Laughton handling his potentially tenuous future with the Leafs?<\/p>\n The veteran centre, headed for unrestricted free agency this summer will be an attractive piece before the NHL trade deadline on Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think I\u2019d probably be in this situation,\u201d Laughton said. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be in the fight with these guys. You play for a year here, and I\u2019ve said it before, I\u2019ve loved my time here, and I\u2019ve loved playing with these guys. I want to be in the fight with the guys and continue to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That\u2019s a nice sentiment, but on the whole, Laughton hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been in the rumours for as long as I can remember in Philly,\u201d Laughton said. \u201cIt\u2019s always there and you try to clear your mind.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your life, it\u2019s where you live, it\u2019s where your family is, and it\u2019s different when you have a family now.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just going to continue to try and play my game help these guys best I can, and hopefully I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n The projected Maple Leafs lineup:<\/p>\n FORWARDS<\/p>\n LW-C-RW<\/p>\n Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi<\/p>\n Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander<\/p>\n Bobby McMann-Nicolas Roy-Easton Cowan<\/p>\n Dakota Joshua<\/a>-Scott Laughton-Nick Robertson<\/p>\n DEFENCEMEN<\/p>\n Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo<\/p>\n Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher<\/p>\n Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n GOALIES<\/p>\n Joseph Woll<\/p>\n Anthony Stolarz<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0114-auston-matthews-maple-leafs.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews looks to pass the puck against the Colorado Avalanche. AP PhotoArticle 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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Gold medallist Auston Matthews #34 of Team United States celebrates after the medal ceremony for Men\u2019s Ice Hockey following the Men\u2019s 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<\/p>\n![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0228-maple-leafs-panthers-oel-lundell.jpg\")
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Toronto Maple Leafs\u2019 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<\/p>\n