The Maple Leafs now trail the Panthers 3-0 and sit in what is likely an insurmountable hole. Getting back in the series at this point will be all but impossible. In the history of the NHL only 4 teams have ever comeback from a 3-0 series deficit.
What did all of those teams have in common? None of those teams were ever willing to give up and their team's stars put their teams on their backs. That's not something the Toronto Maple Leafs stars have been willing to do. In this series all of John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander have been held off the goal sheet.
After last night's loss, which just happened to be one of the least inspired games of Auston Matthews career, the star gave this quote.
Truthfully for the Leafs, last night was do or die and Auston Matthews opted to take the night off. If the Maple Leafs have any shot at making a comeback their best players have to be their best players. However that task seems like an impossibility given how they've performed up to this point.
It's not over until it's over, but let's be honest...it's over. It's over for the Maple Leafs and it's probably over for this Maple Leafs core, and possibly their coach and General Manager.
POLL | ||
Who is the most likely to be traded? | ||
Auston Matthews | 480 | 34.8 % |
Mitch Marner | 157 | 11.4 % |
William Nylander | 616 | 44.7 % |
John Tavares | 125 | 9.1 % |
List of polls |