Auston Matthews, the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is calling for his team to dig deeper following consecutive losses after the Olympic break. Matthews emphasized the need for more urgency and intensity, especially at the start of games.
Following a tough 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers, Matthews noted, "I don't think concern's the right word. I just think we need more desperation, more fire, especially to start games. We know the position that we're in, and we need to be the more desperate team every single night."
The Leafs found themselves trailing 3-0 after the first period and couldn't claw their way back. This defeat came on the heels of another challenging game against the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
Currently, the Leafs have secured just two regulation wins in their last 14 outings and are eight points shy of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with 23 games left to play. The last time Toronto missed the postseason was back in the 2015-16 season.
To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Leafs need an impressive 18-5-0 finish. Matthews' call for a full 60-minute effort is crucial if Toronto aims to turn things around and make a push for the playoffs.