If you watched Game 4 and Game 5 of the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ first-round matchup against the Ottawa Senators, you’d be hard-pressed to believe that the team’s power play was far and away their best asset through the first few games of the series. After going into Game 4 with five power-play goals on nine opportunities, the Leafs are now 0 for their last 7 on the man advantage, and it’s been a painful fall, too. They had a four-minute power play in overtime with a chance to score and advance to the second round of the playoffs in Game 4, and didn’t do anything with it. On Tuesday night, they had a big opportunity to get back into the game after falling behind 1-0, but an Auston Matthews giveaway led to a Senators shorthanded goal.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was asked what his team’s power play unit needs to do better, and he said that ultimately it comes down to simplifying things and being direct with pucks on net.

“We had an opportunity on the power play to get it back, it didn’t happen,” Berube said. “We need to be more direct there, with our power play. I didn’t think our power play was direct enough, with shot volume and getting stuff to the net. And then the third period, obviously, that power play hurt us.”

It was a particularly bad game for the two players who carry more pressure on their backs than anybody, with Matthews and Mitch Marner both finishing the game minus-4. Although they’ve been all over the scoresheet in the early going, the two players have combined for just two goals in the series so far, and despite the threat that they’re capable of being when they’re on their game, Berube acknowledged that he needs to see more from his top line in Game 6 on Thursday.

“Not enough speed through the neutral zone with that line, and then creating things in the offensive zone off that, they were just a little bit late on things and didn’t create enough stoppages in the offensive zone,” Berube explained. “It was one and done too much for me tonight, with that line, in the offensive zone. ”

Despite the sinking feeling of dread that comes with seeing the Leafs blow two straight games with a chance to close out the series, Berube stressed the importance of keeping his team on the same page and ensuring they don’t stray too far away from the things that won them the first three games.

“Stick with it,” Berube said. “We’re up 3-2 in the series. We need composure, we gotta stay composed and poised, and like I said, we’ll figure out some things and be better next game. That’s what it’s about. We’re up 3-2 in the series, so we’re confident. We’re gonna go to Ottawa, where we’ve won a game already, so that’s about it.”

The Leafs will head to Ottawa on Thursday night with another chance to close out the series, but this time, the Senators will have more momentum than they’ve had yet. Getting the power play back in order is going to be crucial if the team wants to leg out a win and test their luck against the Florida Panthers or Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2.