Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews cites lack of pride as team hits crisis point

Time is running out for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since the league resumed play on Feb. 25 after a 20-day break for the NHL to allow its players to participate in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the Ontario franchise has been in disarray.

On Saturday, with their 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena, the Maple Leafs (27-24-9) suffered their third straight defeat, sinking to last place in the Atlantic Division. With 22 games remaining and eight points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, the playoff picture in Toronto looks nearly impossible.

With the loss to Ottawa, in addition to the setbacks against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers, the situation in Toronto has worsened, leading to statements that reveal locker-room sentiment.

Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews addresses team's struggles

Captain Auston Matthews alluded to the pride they must have in every game from now until the end of the regular season, with the goal of achieving a playoff berth. 

"Just bad. Just fairly embarrassing, to be honest with you," said Matthews, via TSN/The Canadian Press. "We need to have more pride in our play, no matter where we're at, no matter what the situation is. We just have to have more pride in our game and we didn't have that tonight."

Toronto was not only outscored but also outshot on goal, 40-23, and failed to convert on two power-play opportunities while committing three penalties, allowing Ottawa a goal with the numerical advantage.

The Maple Leafs' start on Saturday was not only bad in terms of feelings and lack of pride, but the Senators also outshot their provincial rivals 16-2 and, despite that, the game was tied 1-1 after the first intermission.

Of the 22 games remaining on the Maple Leafs' regular-season schedule, 13 are away from home, and 10 of those games are against teams that, if the season ended today, would be qualified for the playoffs or are fighting for a postseason spot, adding more context to the difficult mission Toronto has ahead if it wants to qualify for the playoffs.

Criticism in recent days, inevitably, is also focusing on Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube, who is officially back in the "hot seat."

We will have to wait and see how things unfold in the coming weeks, but as of today, the perception is that Berube might not last long in his current position.

The next opportunity to attempt collective improvement for the Maple Leafs will be Tuesday, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers, who have won two consecutive games.