Jan 19, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A Toronto Maple Leafs jersey lies on the ice after being thrown by a fan during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Air Canada Centre. Carolina defeated Toronto 4-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Frustrated Leafs Fans Fling Jerseys Onto the Ice

Originally posted on Breakaway on SI | By Jacob Punturi | Last updated May 14, 2025 9:52 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing elimination in their second-round series against the Florida Panthers. After a disappointing Game 5 loss, the second consecutive game they’ve been dominated by the defending champions, the Leafs are in danger of another earlier-than-expected playoff exit.

The Maple Leafs’ fans let their frustrations boil over during the Game 5 catastrophe. Following the Panthers’ fifth goal of the game, putting them up 5-0, a fan tossed an Auston Matthews jersey onto the ice. Play was delayed momentarily as an official removed the jersey from the ice.

An Auston Matthews jersey was just thrown on the ice at Scotiabank Arena. pic.twitter.com/lLP1pfpRFl
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 15, 2025

Moments later, the Panthers added another goal. Now leading 6-0, the Toronto faithful launched another indiscernible player’s jersey onto the ice.

Second jersey tossed in the ice (it’s 6-0) pic.twitter.com/wc5tXVWIek
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 15, 2025

Everything was going against the Maple Leafs in Game 5. The Panthers controlled play from the opening puck drop and never looked back. The game put the defending champions firmly in control of the series as well, giving them a 3-2 lead. With another victory, the Panthers can move on to the Eastern Conference Final for the third straight season.

For the Leafs, another playoff exit could be the end of the Core Four in Toronto. Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares have led this team for nearly a decade and haven’t made it past the second round. Marner and Tavares enter the summer as potential big-ticket free agents, and it’s likely one or both of them depart the organization during the offseason.

For the Toronto fan base, they are desperate for more. The team hasn’t captured the Stanley Cup in over 50 years, and the hockey-crazed city deserves better. Their frustrations went overboard during the Game 5 debacle, but the feelings are understandable. The Leafs came up short once again, and that’s been the story of Toronto hockey for the past half-century.

This article first appeared on Breakaway on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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