The Toronto Maple Leafs lose game 5 of their second round matchup against the Florida Panthers, 6-1.

This game, more than any others, was an absolute pathetic performance from the Maple Leafs. From puck drop, they had no poise, no effort, no passion, nothing. Craig Berube mentioned in his postgame press conference, that the Leafs just “stood around and watched”. There’s no better way to put it than that quote right there. Toronto was getting pummeled in their own zone, getting outworked on every single possession. Toronto was lucky to come out of the first period only down a goal. From then on, the game just got worse and worse, to the tune of a 6-1 loss. Nick Robertson scored with just over a minute remaining in the game. It was Toronto’s first goal in over 143 minutes of hockey. One hundred and forty-three minutes of professional hockey. That is absolutely unacceptable.

When Toronto lost in game 3, it was a regrettable loss. You lose in overtime, but you’re still up 2-1 in the series. You had to come out better and perform better in game 4. They lost, and headed back home with the series tied. Not the worst thing in the world. You wanted to see a statement game from the Maple Leafs here to take the series to Florida with the Panthers on their heels. This is probably the worst loss that the Maple Leafs could’ve ever had. They needed to have a statement game, and a statement win. Instead, they stunk up Scotiabank Arena and left getting booed off the ice by their own fans.

Especially in this game, the flaws of this team in the postseason shone bright. Toronto’s best players, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, were horrible. Auston Matthews had multiple poor giveaways in the first period alone, and a Mitch Marner turnover led to a goal in which the Leafs just couldn’t recover from. Come postseason hockey, Auston and Mitch turn into ghosts. Both players had a good series against Ottawa, and many Leafs fans thought that this would be the year that they turn it around. Since that Ottawa series, Auston and Mitch have since disappeared. The more the games matter, the less effective they are. Auston Matthews especially. It’s not like he’s a third-line center where a poor performance can be forgotten about. He’s the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. If he doesn’t score, then he should at least be effective, offensively and defensively. Auston Matthews is a complete ghost. He has not been the difference maker he’s been getting paid to be. There’s been slight possessions where he gets a good chance, and either the puck bounces off his stick, or it’s a poor quality shot that amounts to nothing.

Focusing on Mitch Marner here, there’s nothing about his game right now to like. He’s such an impact player in the regular season, and he’s consistently one of the best playmakers and offensive producers in the league. I don’t know how that just all seems to go away in the postseason. The giveaway leading to the third goal is the exact type of play that cannot happen in a postseason game. Yet, it happens all the time. At this rate, Mitch Marner won’t be a Maple Leaf in September.

I understand losing a couple games in a row. Things happen, you get outplayed. Not 3 games straight, getting outplayed for the entire 180 minutes of those 3 games. Take a look at the Florida Panthers. Take a look at the Vegas Golden Knights. Even the Edmonton Oilers. These teams are winners. They will battle back after a poor performance, or a poor period. The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t play like this. They don’t play like winners. They aren’t able to bounce back in an important game in a series against the defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost like losers this game. Simple as that. Game six in Florida. Do or die. Either do, and bring game 7 back to Toronto, or die and lose like losers.