Auston Matthews after loss to Panthers: ‘We have to be the most desperate team every night’

“I didn’t think we had the same level of urgency and detail that they did,” Matthews said. “They had three in the first. I thought our second and third, we fought hard and played a lot better, but it’s hard to dig yourself out of a hole against a team like that that defends so hard.”

“I don’t think concern is the right word. I just think we need a little more desperation, a little more fire, especially to start games,” Matthews said after the game. “We know the position we are in and we have to be the most desperate team every night. I thought our start wasn’t great, but in the second and third periods we fought and the boys worked. We did a lot of good things, but we have to make it a full 60-minute effort.”

Toronto will certainly have to be the most desperate team every night for the remaining 23 games. Ahead of the March 6 trade deadline, the Maple Leafs appear to be headed for a realignment, which will see several veteran players on the trade block, including Bobby McMann and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, among others. It’s not the outcome Matthews and other Leafs want, but as playoff chances continue to diminish this year, Matthews may be playing with a revamped group as early as next week.

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