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Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner Reveals Auston Matthews’ Locker Room ‘Demeanor’

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 14, 2025 6:50 AM ET

As the Toronto Maple Leafs get ready to host Game 5 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, all eyes remain on Auston Matthews and his ongoing goal-scoring drought.

The Leafs' captain has gone four straight games without a goal and has just two tallies across ten postseason appearances this spring.

Matthews' last scored in Game 6 of the opening round against the Ottawa Senators, even though he's taken 35 shot attempts (fourth-most across the playoff field) through four second-round games.

He's made up for that by assisting his teammates, racking up eight assists in 10 games but only three against the Panthers.

️ Mitch Marner on Auston Matthews’ scoring drought:

"his mood, his energy, his demeanor in the locker room has been unbelievable through it all. you just try to stay patient with it... but yeah, tone's been great through it all. he's the same guy through it all."… pic.twitter.com/S9TZya1zVN
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) May 13, 2025

Despite the dry spell, fellow Maple Leafs star forwards Mitch Marner pushed back on any notion that Matthews is frustrated or off his game.

“Everyone wants to produce, wants to score goals, and he hasn’t let it get him down at all,” Marner said. “His mood, his demeanor in the locker room, has been unbelievable.

“Stay patient. This is a hard team to score against. They’ve done it all year.”

After noting the challenge of scoring against a tough Panthers team, Marner warned against the temptation to cheat on offense, which could backfire.

“We’re working for opportunities. They just haven’t dropped yet,” Marner said. “By any means, we can’t get aggressive with it and start cheating the game.”

Meanwhile, Leafs head coach Craig Berube echoed Marner's sentiment, emphasizing everything else Matthews brings to the table and predicting a "big goal" is coming from the captain.

“He does a great job in a lot of other areas,” Berube said. “He’s going to get his looks. The big goal is coming.”

Game 5 of the series, now tied 2–2, will be played Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

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

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