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
The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to generate any goals in a 2-0 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of their second-round playoff series. When Toronto's loaded offense is held off the scoresheet, the finger generally gets pointed at the top players, like Auston Matthews, who has yet to score a single goal in any of the four games.
Does Matthews feel snakebitten after scoring just twice through 10 playoff games?
"A little bit. I mean, the chances have been there," Matthews said following the Game 4 loss. "I think I've just got to do a better job of bearing down on some of them. But I think for the most part, throughout the four games, we've been winning shifts, generating chances against tough matchups. But obviously, you want to score, I want to score. But continue to get these opportunities and just capitalize and go from there."
Matthews leads the playoffs with 23 missed shots over the 10 games, four more than the next-best player in that category. Couple that with the fact that Matthews has had to miss full team skates, you wonder if it's a luck thing or an injury that is preventing the multi-time goal-scoring champion to be limited .
Three of Matthews' seven shot attempts missed the net on Sunday. And yes, the forward has been able to get.
At 5-on-5, Matthews has been on the ice for five goals scored while only allowing two goals against. So he is winning some of those battles. But some goals from their highest-paid player would probably have seen the Leafs still up in their best-of-seven series instead of heading back home with the series tied 2-2.
"If we capitalized on some of the opportunities we have, it's a different game, right?" Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said.
William Nylander has pulled his weight, with a team-high six goals and 15 points in the playoffs. John Tavares is right up there with five goals with five goals. While Matthews is third on the team with 10 points, his hallmark is scoring goals. And at some point the Leafs are going to need that side of him to come forward before it's too late.
