‘I don’t think we gave them much reason to stick around’: Matthews reacts to Maple Leafs getting booed in Game 5
The Toronto Maple Leafs are suddenly on the brink of elimination after initially holding a 2-0 series lead against the Florida Panthers.
Toronto fell 6-1 to the Panthers in Game 5, with the series now set to shift back to Sunrise for what could be the conclusion of the second-round matchup. Toronto lost in overtime of Game 3 before getting shutout in Game 4. Now, after a crushing blow in Game 5, the Leafs look destined to fall flat to the Panthers in the second round just like they did in 2023.
The Maple Leafs were booed off the ice, with one fan even throwing a jersey on the ice. After the game, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was asked about getting booed.
“I don’t think we gave them much reason to stick around,” Matthews said in a media scrum.
Auston Matthews on the boos and the crowd leaving early:
“I don’t think we gave them much reason to stick around.”@sdpnsports https://t.co/pGpZxFhysa
The Leafs gave up the first goal for the second straight game, with Florida outshooting Toronto 13-6.
“The start wasn’t great. The way they play, I think we fed into what makes them successful.”
Aaron Ekblad, Dmitriy Kulikov, Jesper Boqvist, Niko Mikkola, A.J. Greer and Sam Bennett were the goal-scorers for Florida. Bennett now has six goals in the playoffs this year, matching the total from the other five players combined.
The Leafs last won a second-round series in 2002 when they beat the Ottawa Senators in seven games. They ultimately lost in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. Toronto’s lone goal-scorer on Wednesday, Nick Robertson, was eight months old when they last won a second-round series.
Robertson’s goal was his first of the playoffs after being taken out against Ottawa in favor of Max Pacioretty. Robertson and David Kampf replaced re-joined the lineup in favor of Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg on Wednesday.
“Tonight, it wasn’t a good game for anybody,” said coach Craig Berube. “Anybody. All of us — it was not a good game.”