THUNDER BAY – STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS 2025 — The pressure is mounting in Leaf Nation, and the cracks are starting to show.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ big guns—Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner—are ice cold, and the Florida Panthers have pounced, clawing their way back into this Eastern Conference Second Round series, now tied 2-2 after a clinical 2-0 shutout win in Game 4.
Once roaring with 13 goals over the first three games, Toronto’s offense went silent in Game 4. And the headlines write themselves: No goals for Matthews, no shots on goal for Marner in back-to-back games.
Yes, you read that right. Marner, a magician with the puck, hasn’t even tested Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky in two straight games.
Matthews Playing Hurt?
Coach Craig Berube isn’t panicking—but he’s not sugarcoating either.
While Matthews has three assists in the series, he’s yet to light the lamp, and his absence from the morning skate before Game 4 raises eyebrows. The upper-body injury that nagged him all season might still be lurking, but Berube insists the captain is still making key contributions beyond the scoresheet.
“He’s killing penalties, playing tough matchups, doing a lot of good things,” Berube told reporters post-game. “Of course, we want him to score—and so does he—but he’s still a force out there. The big goal’s coming. You have to believe that.”
Marner Needs to Pull the Trigger
Berube was a little sharper when talking about Marner’s disappearing act.
“He’s got the puck, we know that,” said Berube. “But he’s got to be more direct. He’s looking to upgrade his chances too much. Sometimes you just need to fire the puck on net, even from bad angles. That’s playoff hockey. You never know what can happen.”
Marner’s last (and only) shot in the past three games? The game-winner in Game 2. A simple, no-nonsense wrister off the boards. No overthinking, just instinct.
That’s exactly what the Leafs need as they head back to Scotiabank Arena for a pivotal Game 5 on Wednesday.
Panthers Look Like Champs Again
Credit to the Panthers. After a wobbly start, the defending Stanley Cup champs are flexing their pedigree, tightening up defensively and shutting down Toronto’s once-dynamic offense.
Florida’s depth and swagger have tilted the ice in their favor. Now the question is, can the Leafs rediscover that relentless attack that powered them to a 2-0 series lead?
Berube isn’t about to hit the panic button.
“I’ve liked our team’s game overall. I don’t think there’s a whole lot to change,” he said, referencing how the Leafs bounced back after two straight losses to Ottawa earlier this postseason. “We expected a long series. That’s what we’ve got.”
Reset, Regroup, Respond
With two days to regroup, the Leafs need their stars to shine. Matthews, Marner, Tavares—this is their moment.
Leafs fans in Thunder Bay and across Canada know the stakes. Game 5 will be massive, and the pressure at Scotiabank will be deafening.
Will Toronto’s leaders step up? Or will the Panthers push them to the brink?
All eyes on Wednesday night.
