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John Tavares says Maple Leafs were too easy to play against in shutout loss to Capitals
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Dylan Nazareth
Dec 19, 2025, 09:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 19, 2025, 12:32 EST
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The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered an embarassing 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, and have now dropped three of their last four games.
Heading into this season, the mantra under head coach Craig Berube was to become a team that’s hard to play against, but so far that hasn’t really materialized. That was especially evident on Thursday night, as noted by alternate captain John Tavares in his post-game presser.
“They’re a good hockey team, but we just didn’t make it hard enough on them,” Tavares said. “Too easy to get into our zone. Obviously a night where we probably weren’t as clean or as crisp on the puck as we’d like, but that’s when you just gotta really dig in and be very difficult to play against. Eventually after wearing an opponent down, things start to come, and you earn good things and put yourself in a spot to win the hockey game.”
Unfortunately, Toronto was unable to pull that off on Thursday, suffering its first shutout loss this season. That, despite five power play opportunities in the game. With that dismal effort on the man advantage, the Leafs continue to sit last in power-play goals with just 12 on the season, holding a poor 14. 1 power play percentage.
“Obviously execution just hasn’t been good enough,” Tavares said, of Toronto’s power play. “Our puck support, our ability to just be sharper, and just harder. Just being very determined to be better than the penalty kill, create opportunities, and obviously eventually put the puck in the net, especially with the personnel we have.”
After Thursday night’s loss, the Maple Leafs continue to sit outside a playoff spot, as the rest of the Atlantic begins to create some distance. Toronto is currently seventh in the division, and four points back from a wild card spot in the East.
Asked if there’s concern that Toronto continues to see nights like this, Tavares’ frustration was evident, but he reiterated his belief in the team.
“Clearly we’re not in a spot we want to be in,” Tavares said. “But we’re not far off from being in a really good spot. We just have to realize night in and night out just how much more consistent we have to be with our game.”
Toronto’s road trip continues on Saturday night in Tennessee, facing off against the Nashville Predators.

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