There was supposed to be a strong pushback on home ice from the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 5 after dropping two straight to the Florida Panthers, evening up the second-round series. Instead, it turned into one of the most humiliating playoff performances in the ‘Core Four’ era, and the frustration boiled over from the club’s fans accordingly. 

With the Leafs trailing the Panthers 5-0 in the third period, fans at Scotiabank Arena booed. Then, they left. And for those who stayed, they began throwing jerseys onto the ice.

As The Hockey News’ David Alter reported, after the Panthers had scored their fifth goal of the game, the first Leafs jersey was tossed onto the ice. As seen in the photo, it was an Auston Matthews flipside jersey.

Shortly after Florida made it 6-0, a second jersey followed, this time captured by NHL Network’s David Pagnotta.

By that point, Scotiabank Arena was half empty.

The loud boos had long started, beginning late in the second period when Florida made it 4-0 after a three-goal middle frame. What should have been a playoff-charged crowd had reverted into near silence, aside from the booing, of course.

When veteran defenseman Chris Tanev, a Toronto native, saw the jerseys hit the ice, it was a clear sign that he and the team must “play better.”

Toronto’s 6-1 loss on Wednesday marked their third consecutive defeat and put them in a 3-2 hole heading back to Sunrise for Game 6. What began as a promising 2-0 series lead has unraveled in less than a week.

Jersey throwing is more often seen in the regular season, though it has been seen throughout the poor performances by this specific Leafs core in the past. However, in Game 5 of the second-round series with the series tied? 

Not common. 

‘I Don’t Think We Gave Them Much Reason To Stick Around’: Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs React To Boos, Fans Leaving During Game 5 Blowout By the time the Florida Panthers scored their sixth goal midway through the third period on Wednesday night, Scotiabank Arena had become a sea of empty seats. However, fans began the booing and heading for the exits late in the second period when Florida made it 4-0.

This series has taken a serious momentum swing for a Leafs team on the brink of elimination. Should they extend the series on Friday, they’ll return home to the ice where they were booed off for a Game 7 with a chance to redeem themselves.

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