Auston Matthews’ Honest Admission After Tense Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 6

Auston Matthews has finally found the back of the net for the first time in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ second-round series against the Florida Panthers, and it came when his team needed him the most to deliver.

In Toronto’s do-or-die Game 6 versus the Panthers on the road on Friday, Matthews ended his lengthy goal drought when he lit the lamp six minutes into the third period to break a scoreless tie. 

It turned out to be the game-winning goal of the contest, as the Maple Leafs came away with a 2-0 victory. Max Pacioretty added an insurance goal with under six minutes left in regulation.

Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shoots and scores against the Panthers.

Arena. Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Given the importance of Game 6 and the way Game 5 turned out for the Maple Leafs, there was immense pressure on Matthews and the Maple Leafs to put up a stellar performance and win on Friday at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Fortunately for Toronto, Matthews answered the call and helped the Maple Leafs stun Florida in enemy territory.

“I mean I think it was pretty simple honestly you know nothing we can do to change that result, obviously bad game all around,” Matthew admitted during a postgame appearance on NHL TNT when asked whether it was “easy or difficult” for the Maple Leafs to forget Game 5’s 6-1 loss at the hands of the Panthers.

Continued Matthews: “I thought we came in tonight [with] good legs, good energy, tight game all throughout. Nice to break through there in the third, and just sticking with it and getting the win, so it was huge, it took everybody tonight. 

Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll also deserves lots of credit for Toronto’s series-extending victory, as he stopped all 22 shots he faced from the Panthers.

But the job is not done for Matthews and company, with Game 7 coming up on Sunday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto