Maple Leafs comment on Auston Matthews still looking for his first goal of the series

Despite everyone arguing that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner should be separated ahead of do or die Game 4 on Wednesday, head coach Sheldon Keefe kept them together and the latter finally found the back of the net with the game-winning goal.

However, Matthews is still looking for his first goal in this second round series.

During the morning skate on Friday, the mood was loose with the Maple Leafs focused on getting a win in front of their passionate fans to stay alive in the postseason.

After practice, some Maple Leafs players were asked about Matthews remaining goalless in this match up against the Florida Panthers and they commented on the star forwards struggles.

“He’s a threat every time he’s on the ice, even if he’s not scoring…He knows how good of a player he is and we know it too,” Michael Bunting said, per Mike Stephens, about Matthews still looking for his first goal of the series.

Defenseman Luke Schenn added: “You worry about a guy when he’s not getting chances and looks…But he’s been playing great.”

The lack of production from the core forwards for the Maple Leafs, including Matthews, Marner and William Nylander, was a hot topic of discussion after they fell behind 3-0 in the series.

Marner responded with his 14th-career multi-point playoff game in Game 4 and Nylander also got on the board with his first goal of the matchup against the Panthers.

Matthews registered an assist in each of the first two games of the series, but he’s still looking for his first goal of the series.

And tonight, he needs to go up with it as Toronto is 1-4 straight up on home ice in these playoffs.

It is now or never, Matthews.

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