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2025 Series: Cole Caufield still has more goals than Auston Matthews

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated May 13, 2025 10:23 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently in a… tricky situation. They had a 2-0 lead in their series against the Panthers, but have just lost two in a row.

And given the Leafs’ history in the playoffs, the AI was probably right to doubt them, even with a 2-0 series lead.

If the Leafs want to bounce back, they’ll have to hope Auston Matthews starts scoring goals again. The club’s star forward plays good defensive hockey… but he earns his salary by scoring goals, and right now, he’s scoring goals at this level.

In fact, since the start of the current playoffs, Matthews has 10 points in 10 games, but only two goals. And that’s less than… Cole Caufield, who’s been on vacation for the past two weeks.

The CH maverick scored three goals in five games against the Capitals.

Even worse: Matthews has yet to score a career goal in the second round of the playoffs. Even Jake Evans managed that feat… even if he had to suffer to get there, Mark Scheifele’s word.

Fun fact: Jake Evans has more 2nd-round goals in his career than Auston Matthews

Evans: 1 goal in 1 game
Matthews: 0 goals in 9 games

– Guillaume Villemaire (@GVillemaire13) May 12, 2025

What’s clear right now is that the Leafs must be hoping their captain returns to the elite scorer he’s capable of being. Again, it’s great to see him so solid defensively… but in Toronto, we need to see him score goals.

And right now, he’s not doing that enough. Far from it, in fact.

We know that Matthews has been playing injured for some time, but at this stage of the season, all the players are suffering from injuries. This excuse doesn’t go down well… especially when it follows the trend of recent years.

And that’s why, right now, the heat on Matthews is really, really intense… so much so that in Toronto, the decision to name him captain before the current season is currently being castigated.

#MLSE should be renamed Maple Leaf Shams and Eggheads after a whopper of a decision last summer involving the #Leafs. Sad tale here … https://t.co/cx7PbUD09S #LeafsForever #LeafsNation #MLSE #Panthers pic.twitter.com/ognFF3gzjM

– Howard Berger (@Berger_BYTES) May 12, 2025

Let’s see if Matthews can break his goal-scoring drought tomorrow… because if the Leafs want to avoid another early elimination, the captain is going to have to step up.

And the clock is ticking.

Overtime

– Official: Miro Heiskanen will play tonight.

Miro Heiskanen is officially BACK for the Stars

( @NHL) pic.twitter.com/JgMZ1qLNVO

– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 13, 2025

– Happy listening.

The new episode of #TellementHockey is available!
@MAGodin @GasconAlexandre and Alexandre Coupal

On the menu:

The Canadian flame flickers
Mikko’s spring
Hurry up coaching because it’s coming to an end

Available on OHdio: https: //t.co/kNiARWDj8v
and on… pic.twitter.com/vvz2SzdHsM

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) May 13, 2025