'I Don't Think Anybody At This Point Is 100 Percent': Injured Earlier This Season, Can Auston Matthews Break Through Against The Panthers In Game 6?

May 11, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skate during the second period in game four of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

With the Toronto Maple Leafs one game away from elimination in the second round of their playoff series against the Florida Panthers, Toronto captain Auston Matthews was asked how he felt physically going into Game 6 

"I mean, I don't think anybody at this point is 100%," he said. "So it's just mentally, physically being able to grind through all that stuff. Everybody's going through something, and so just trying to put your best effort out there, staying focused, competing, working, battling. You know, those second and third efforts are obviously important this time here."

Although he didn't get into details about his own individual issues, if any. His answer was revealing. He could have said he feels good, but instead ventured into the cliche of everyone dealing with something, for which he included himself

Matthews has two goals and eight assists in 11 playoff games, but he has yet to score against the Panthers in their playoff battle, despite numerous chances.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube dismissed any concerns about him earlier in the series. Instead, he pointed to all the good things the player has done defensively. But with their playoff lives on the line, the lack of goals certainly sticks out.

"I mean, of course, you want to score, you want to do that. But just doing all the other little things, getting opportunities, it's on me to capitalize on them," Matthews said on Friday. "I'm just going to continue to shoot, continue to compete out there and work and do the little things to the best of my ability. And when those opportunities come, I'm just going to keep shooting and keep believing that the next one's going on."

Matthews missed 15 games during the regular season due to a lingering upper-body injury. He missed nine games in November and another six in December. The issue was bad enough that Toronto's captain flew to Germany to see additional treatment. The time missed due to injury, coupled with the potential lingering effects, contributed to a drop in Matthews' typically elite goal-scoring rate. While still a productive offensive player, his goals-per-game rate in 2024-25 was lower than in recent dominant seasons. 

Matthews scored 69 goals in 81 games in 2023-24, while in the 67 games he played in 2024-25, he registered 33 goals. 

Although the highly-skilled offensive player saw an increase in assists and was used more on the penalty kill, the scoring threat from No. 34 hasn't been there. The highly secretive Matthews didn't deny that he was dealing something. And after Toronto's poor effort in a 6-1 loss to Florida in Game 5, Leafs fans are certainly wondering what's up with their captain.

Whatever it is, Matthews has at least one more game to change the narrative on what has been a difficult second-round series.

Florida leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 with Game 6 set for Friday at 8 p.m. ET,.