About 2 months ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Senators 4-2 at the Scotiabank Arena. After the game, the Leafs’ head coach, Craig Berube, would mention a few things, like the team lacking urgency. “We didn’t win enough battles there and that’s an area of the game, it’s urgency for me…” How incriminating is it that on May 18, in the biggest game of the season against the Panthers, the Maple Leafs showed the same issues? This time, they had to pay the heaviest price, and coach Berube hasn’t minced his words.

Taking the post-game presser after the 6-1 humbling on home ice, Craig Berube was asked if he was surprised to see the lack of energy, desire, and intensity among the Maple Leafs players, given that they showed all of that just 2 days ago in Game 6. The Leafs’ coach credited the Panthers for bringing the right attitude to the game. “They were the better team tonight. They were the more desperate team tonight. Um, they were the more aggressive team tonight. That’s what I take out of the game tonight.”

And on the flip side, that’s exactly what the Toronto Maple Leafs were lacking. “You win a game six, that’s great. You come home … you got to have a level of desperation, determination, and I didn’t feel we had it.” The biggest evidence of it? The Panthers are leading the Leafs in takeaways by 7 to 3. It was more glaringly obvious for the D-line and the goaltender who gave away 3 goals in 7 minutes of the 2nd period after an even 1st period.

In a game like this between 2 big teams, one mistake is way too many. And not coming on to the ice battle ready, you are just letting your teammates down. Even Leafs captain Auston Matthews didn’t hold back in the presser. “I just thought we had too many passengers … just weren’t on the same page. And you know, they (Panthers) get a couple goals and momentum like that and then you’re chasing the game.”

Continuing, the 27-year-old added, “It’s hard to get it back, you know, when you’re down three against a good team that plays sound defensively like them.” The Leafs’ defense definitely faltered big time. That includes Joseph Woll. Yes, he is the backup goaltender, but talk about having a bad day in the office.

If the goal from Panthers forward Sam Reinhart within seconds of face-off was down to the Leafs D-line not being alert, which basically was the whole game, Woll conceding a cheap goal from Eetu Luostarinen through his near post was both devastating and annoying for the Leafs team. Because they had just pulled back the score 3-1 40 seconds ago. The Arena was loud, the fans were getting behind the team, and the O-line was getting ready for a push.

But that goal and the next Reinhard goal just killed any hopes they had. The reporters asked Berube if he had seen him get frustrated on the bench, and Mitch Marner was also yelling at his teammates. A complete breakdown of composure and semblance. The coach didn’t give a diplomatically shady answer. Rather, he addressed it head-on. “Well frustration sets in, I think … when you don’t get, you know, everybody on board and doing the right things, and um, playing together as a team, um, that’s what happens.”

The 59-year-old continued, “You can’t go in a game like tonight and you can’t have anybody not on their best at their best. And doesn’t mean, you know, fancy plays or all these plays, you know, skilled plays. You’re at your best when you’re highly competitive, winning your battles, desperation, doing everything possible to win the hockey game and we didn’t do that tonight and that’s why the result was the result.”

Auston Matthews was clearly gutted, not ready for the post-game presser. After all, he dreamt of a different outcome a year ago.

Yet another early Playoff exit for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews has been at the Leafs since 2016. And after being the alternate captain, he replaced John Tavares as a captain in August 2024. A new beginning, and the Leafs fans thought, hopefully, a better end to the season. And it started that way. As the Toronto Maple Leafs finished first in the Atlantic Division. They were dreaming. Maybe in 2025, the 48-year Stanley Cup drought would be over.

But it ended with the fans turning on their team. So frustrated were they by the whimpering display of the Leafs, even critical that it was the home ice. They couldn’t keep their frustrations bottled up. And started throwing jerseys on the ice, booing their own team, which they have backed year after year. Even after the game, while the players were acknowledging the support of the fans, there were boos heard.

No question, a loss is hard to take. But the way they lost doesn’t let them walk away with their heads high. And one problem is consistent. Lack of fight and getting the job done.