Auston Matthews‘ stats of 10 points in 11 games looked fine on paper, but the reality was quite different. As the Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain and an NHL forward, he just didn’t live up to his potential in their Round 2 series against the Panthers. In five games against the Panthers, where the Leafs took a 2-0 lead only to lose the following three games, Matthews didn’t score a single goal. So it’s no wonder that when fans threw their jerseys on the ice in protest during Game 5, the very first jersey had Auston Matthews written on the back.

However, that all changed tonight. The Leafs went into Game 5 with the odds and even their fans against them. Another loss, and their 2024-25 Stanley Cup dreams would be over. Yet Matthews and the Leafs continued to persist. “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,” Matthews said ahead of the game. And that’s exactly what happened.

Auston Matthews broke the deadlock after two goalless periods, where the Panthers failed to capitalize on their win-streak momentum. “AUSTON MATTHEWS WITH HIS FIRST OF THE SERIES AND IT COULDN’T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME,” B/R Open Ice wrote in all caps while posting the clip of Matthews, finally scoring his first goal of the series. Even more poetic was the player who assisted Matthews.

It was none other than the other Leafs superstar, Mitchell Marner. And guess what? Marner, just like Matthews, found himself on the receiving end of a lot of hate following his lackluster performance in Game 5. In fact, many fans even called for the Leafs to trade Mitch Marner after his contract ends when their current season wraps up. And yet, Marner and Matthews both refused to give in to the negativity.

“Everyone wants to produce, wants to score goals, and he hasn’t let it get him down at all,” Marner said about Auston Matthews on Tuesday ahead of Game 5. It took the captain one extra game to finally convert a shot. However, it instantly became the most important goal the Leafs have scored in their nail-biting series against the Cats. However, it wouldn’t be possible without a mindset shift.

Auston Matthews and Co. hit the reset button

After their disastrous Game 5, coach Craig Berube revealed what he expected from the blue brigade. “I expect a response from our team. But it is more about a mindset going into this Game 6,” explained Craig Berube. And it’s this aspect that the Leafs chose to focus on going into Game 6 against the Florida Panthers.

Auston Matthews also failed to score a goal in Games 5, 6, and 7 during the 2024 playoffs when the Boston Bruins eliminated the Leafs. So this year, the Leafs’ captain shut out the noise and only focused on the team. “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 in this locker room,” the 27-year-old said ahead of the game.

“The staff, the coaches, all that, you know, playing for one another. And the focus is just on inside the room,” Matthews said ahead of the crucial game. Marner and the rest of the quad were on the same page. After all, Toronto topped the Atlantic Division after 25 years, so the players knew they were playing better than ever this season. And finally, there was Joseph Woll.

Just like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and others, Joseph Woll was a man on a mission in Game 6. The NHL goaltender faced a huge setback when the Leafs pulled him after he allowed 5 shots to go past him. But tonight, the Leafs’ goalie was flawless. While the Leafs’ defense held up much better than in Game 5, the Cats still shot more pucks at Woll, who kept out 22 shots on goal to register a shutout win. Talk about bouncing back! And with that, the Maple Leafs have forced the series to go the distance, and the upcoming Game 7 will decide the winner.