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Auston Matthews Calls Himself Out After Humiliating Game 5 Against the Panthers

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 15, 2025 9:25 AM ET

Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs were embarrassed in Game 5 against Florida, and now the captain has taken responsibility for his dreadful play that has the team on the brink of elimination in 2025.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have gone further in 2025 than they ever have during the Core Four era, but on Wednesday, they were demolished on home ice by the Florida Panthers 6-1, and now, they face elimination in Game 6 with a 3-2 deficit in the series.

This has only further mounted pressure on the leaders of this team, especially Auston Matthews, who has faced criticism for his level of play throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with just 2 goals scored through 11 games so far.

Now, 34 has addressed his struggles as well as the teams performance against Florida in Game 5, and it's safe to say that the frustration was easy to recognize given the way he simply hasn't been able to make a mark on either series Toronto have played thus far.

'I think everybody's got to look in the mirror, myself included.'

Despite taking six shots in the game, Matthews again failed to score and had a -2 differential, and with the team on the verge of elimination, there's never been a bigger game in Matthews' career than the Game 6 coming up in Florida.

While Matthews noted that the entire team needed to look in a mirror, he included himself in that, recognizing that he has struggled mightily on his own, and unless the team can get back in this series, this could be a historic blunder for the captain who will have many questions to answer over the summer.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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