Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews refuses to quit on Toronto’s season

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7 March 2026 at 23:36

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews says the team will keep fighting despite their difficult season and recent trade deadline moves.

Speaking to reporters before Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Matthews stressed that the team still owes fans and teammates a strong effort in the final stretch.

The Maple Leafs have struggled big time throughout the 2025-26 season. Toronto enters the game with a 27-25-11 record and sits near the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 65 points. A recent six-game losing streak has pushed the team further away from a playoff position in one of the NHL’s most competitive divisions.

MORE: Maple Leafs GM warns players with ‘end of the season’ message

Despite the standings, Matthews said the players cannot simply give up with 19 games remaining.

“I mean, I think just each night taking it one game at a time, making sure that we’re ready to compete each night,” Matthews said. “Having fun, sticking together, putting in an effort that we can be proud of when we leave the rink.”

Matthews added that the team has a responsibility to the fans who continue to support the club.

“I think it’s something that we owe to one another. I think we owe it to the fans that pay money to come watch us play, to go out there and put forth a good effort,” Matthews said. “So, that’s all we can ask for. I don’t think we’re looking at the standings and just kinda folding over.”

Auston Matthews says despite the standings and selling at the deadline, the team still owes it to the fans who pay money and show up to give a good effort in the remaining 19 games:

“It’s obviously not ideal, and it’s not fun. It’s never fun losing and being in this situation.… pic.twitter.com/unPmue1te7
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) March 7, 2026

Toronto’s struggles this season have come largely from defensive issues. The Maple Leafs average 3.16 goals per game but allow 3.46, one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

Auston Matthews’ offensive decline since 69 goal season

Meanwhile, Matthews continues to lead the team with 26 goals, while William Nylander tops the roster with 58 points. However, Matthews’ scoring pace has slowed compared with his historic 69-goal season in 2023–24. The decline followed an upper-body injury that affected much of the 2024-25 campaign.

Toronto now faces a difficult test against the Lightning, who hold a 38-18-4 record this season. The Lightning also won the previous matchup between the teams 4-2.