During a game where they've received four power plays, Auston Matthews and William Nylander have combined for two of the Leafs' 12 shots through two periods.
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Auston Matthews believes power play woes come down to execution after Leafs’ loss to Capitals
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Dec 19, 2025, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 18, 2025, 23:09 EST
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews did not register a single shot at 5-on-5 during a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals, and tried to find some positives after the blowout loss.
Matthews struggled in all facets of the game, and his line, featuring Matthew Knies and William Nylander were outshot 7-0. It was a listless offensive performance that called into question whether the team may be tuning out head coach Craig Berube, and Matthews offered his post-game assessment Thursday.
“I thought we made it really easy for them,” Matthews said post-game. “The neutral zone was a highway for them to get through. We just made it so easy for them, and they’re obviously a skilled team. I don’t think we put enough stress on them, on both sides of the puck.”
It was a tough night for the Maple Leafs overall, and the team’s power play was outright dreadful. During three opportunities with the man advantage during the first period, the Leafs generated just one shot. Several entries were swatted at the blue line, and the Maple Leafs’ power play is now connecting at a 14.1 percent clip, the second-worst total in the NHL, only ahead of the Calgary Flames.
“Just execution. It’s one, two passes, and then like, the next one is not a good one, or it’s just not being executed,” Matthews said of the Leafs’ power play woes. “I thought we had some good progress, and tonight was a big step back in that regard, as far as execution goes, opportunities. We didn’t really get much going in that regard, especially in a game where there’s not a whole lot offensively going on.”
“We get there and make a couple of good plays, and the next play isn’t the right play, or it’s just one-and-done.”
Matthews and the Maple Leafs will regroup on Saturday against the Nashville Predators, where a significantly better effort is required. Toronto needs more from its captain, especially during a month where he’s lost individual matchups to Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid and Aliaksei Protas.
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