Auston Matthews has faced a lot of criticism lately because of how he played in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. So, the Toronto Maple Leafs kicked things off strong against the Florida Panthers, winning the first two games. But then, things took a turn after a tough Game 5, where they ended up losing 6-1. As we gear up for a crucial Game 6 against the Panthers, Matthews took a moment to talk about the growing pressure he’s feeling due to his scoring struggles in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he had a calm yet determined message to share.

Addressing the critics who are questioning his production, Matthews remarked, “Oh, I mean, of course, you want to score. You want to do that. But just doing all the other little things, obviously getting opportunities, it’s on me to capitalize on them. But 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 in.”

Toronto’s captain highlighted how important it is for him to stay focused on the process instead of getting caught up in missed chances. He recognized that everyone wants to score, but he really emphasized how crucial it is to focus on the small stuff — like working hard, staying involved, and always looking for opportunities to create chances. Matthews had a way of speaking that combined being responsible with a strong sense of self-assurance.

The Maple Leafs’ captain acknowledged that it’s his responsibility to capitalize on the opportunities he’s getting, but he also made it clear that he’s not backing down from the moment. Rather than letting the lack of goals get him down, he’s decided to stay focused on his game, keep taking those shots, and trust that his breakthrough is on the way.

As the Maple Leafs find themselves on the brink of elimination and the chatter about his performance grows, this response really pushed back against the online trolls and the media’s criticism. Matthews isn’t shying away from the expectations — he’s fully embracing them and really believes that his next big moment is just around the corner.

“I mean, I think the focus is just on this group. I think all the outside stuff isn’t really paid too much attention to. You know, it’s the 25 guys are in this locker room, the staff, the coaches, all that, you know, playing for one another. And the focus is just on inside the room,” said Matthews. Toronto’s captain is making it clear that everyone—players, coaches, and staff—is focusing on what really matters and tuning out any distractions as they gear up for the playoff battle. This kind of message really shows how experienced leaders handle pressure.

It’s a good reminder that what matters most is the unity and trust in the locker room, not what people think outside of it. Did you know that a certain legend of the sport had a lot of criticism, not just for Matthews but also for his teammate?

Former Stanley Cup champion critics Auston Matthews’ and Mitch Marner’s performances

“Our whole game, our history, is always been about the stars. Okay. High notes, best players as a role player, as a player, that was a very, very, very tiny piece of a Stanley Cup championship. We’re just like fillers, man. We can just, and sometimes we can hold it if they’re, if they’re not going, there’s guys that can kind of buy them time, buy them time,” Nick Kypreos mentioned.

The former Stanley Cup champion is pointing out that there’s a significant difference between role players like himself and the true stars of a hockey team. He mentions that the entire setup of the game—its history, success, and culture—really depends on that top-notch NHL talent. What about the stars right now? So, it’s none other than Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner!

For the other players, it wasn’t about leading the charge but more about supporting the team’s top performers and making sure they held their own. But when those stars stumbled, the rest of the team could only do so much before everything began to fall apart. As we look ahead to Game 6, it’ll be interesting to see how these two stars of their teams show up and perform. Time will tell!