Don Cherry's Theory on Auston Matthews Will Catch Maple Leafs' Attention

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 12, 2025 1:29 PM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews played over 20 minutes in Game 4 against the Florida Panthers, fired three shots on goal, but once again failed to score.

The Maple Leafs lost 2-0 to Florida on Sunday evening, and the second-round series is tied at two games apiece.

With Matthews sitting on two goals through 10 playoff games, concerns over his scoring drought have intensified, drawing comments from his own head coach and a failed prediction by Panthers coach Paul Maurice.

Longtime NHL analyst Don Cherry shared his theory about what's going on with Matthews during Sunday's episode of "The Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast," suggesting the Leafs captain is not healthy.

"I think he's hurt," Cherry said. "He must be, because he's not shooting the way he can."

Matthews dealt with an undisclosed injury during the regular season and missed 15 games across two separate stretches.

Though the specifics were never confirmed, some suspected a recurring wrist issue, which has affected him in the past and could have been reaggravated during the first-round series against the Ottawa Senators.

Don Cherry's son, Tim, mentioned that Matthews blocked a shot with his hand against the Senators, which could be contributing to his issues.

"You wonder if his hand is hurting," Don Cherry added.

Berube dismissed concerns about Matthews after Game 3, saying, "He is trying to hit the net. He is not trying to miss the net."

The Leafs were shut out in Game 4, with Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second-round series between Toronto and Florida set for 7 p.m. ET Wednesday inside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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