The noise around the Toronto Maple Leafs has been impossible to ignore over the past two days.

After an embarrassing 6-1 loss on home ice in Game 5, a third straight loss to the Florida Panthers that erased what was once a commanding 2-0 series lead in the second round, the narrative in Toronto has quickly shifted. The collective feeling is all too familiar with another Leafs team seemingly crumbling in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

From the players’ perspective, with their season on the line in a do-or-die Game 6 Friday night, they’re doing everything they can to block out the noise, insisting the focus hasn’t changed.

“I think the focus is just on this group,” said captain Auston Matthews after the morning skate. “All the outside stuff isn’t really paying too much attention to. It’s the 25 guys that are in this locker room, the staff, the coaches, all that. Playing for one another and the focus is just on the inside.”

“Just go into this game with the focus and intention that you gotta work and compete, do the right things, take care of the puck. I think it’s a simple recipe for us to be successful,” he added. 

Head coach Craig Berube, who called Wednesday’s performance “disappointing,” urged his players to stay off social media following the blowout loss. He encouraged them not to dwell on the game at all during Thursday’s travel day, instead focusing on resetting mentally for the game that lies ahead.

‘I Can’t Control What They Do’: After Game 5 Loss, Berube Tells Maple Leafs To Stay Off Social Media And Focus On Hockey The lights couldn’t be brighter, and the noise couldn’t be any louder after the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t just lose Game 5, they were humiliated.

That simplicity might be what Toronto needs after a frustrating week of hockey.

After scoring 13 goals on Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky across the first three games, they’ve managed just one in their last two. The Panthers have tightened up structurally, dictating pace and smothering Toronto’s ‘Core Four,’ while the Leafs have gotten away from what made them successful earlier in the series.

“I think we just try to focus on what’s in the locker room,” said John Tavares, echoing Matthews’ sentiment. “You work to get to these points in the season to have these opportunities to continue on and get closer to your ultimate goal. The challenges that they present are really tough; they're really challenging, and you have to be excited about that. Have to keep a real strong belief in each other and the trust in the game that we’ve built, we’re at this point in the season for a reason.”

Belief and trust within one another have become talking points inside the Leafs’ locker room in the past couple of days because belief outside of it has understandably wavered. Leafs Nation has seen this movie plenty of times before, and they didn’t like the ending.

'I Believe In Them': Why Maple Leafs Are Sticking With Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner Duo In Game 6 Against Panthers The Toronto Maple Leafs are rolling with the same lineup that's resulted in playoff success in the past, with Game 6 against the Florida Panthers on the horizon.

But according to Tavares, the team playing the game doesn’t seem ready to throw in the towel just yet.

“I think just focusing on the challenge and opportunity today,” he said. “Just gotta go and win a hockey game, and I think being excited about that challenge. Just focusing on our game and our identity. Getting back to things that made us a really good team all year and throughout the playoffs so far."

“We want to continue on, we want to keep going, we want to get to the ultimate goal,” Tavares added. “Try not to focus too much on the big picture that way. I think it’s just going to get ready for tonight and everything you gotta do to be successful and put yourself in a good spot.”

'We'll Be A Lot Better': Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Urges Players To Stop Overthinking Ahead of Game 6 Vs. Panthers If there's anything Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube wants to see out of his players in a do-or-die Game 6 against the Florida Panthers, it's that they're not <a href="https://x.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1922798869177372719">overthinking things</a>.

The chance to redeem themselves in front of their home fans still exists, but only if they can win a game on the road Friday night. Despite the three-game skid, there’s a silver lining. The Leafs have not lost four straight games at any point this season. They’ve also been a strong road team, and a win tonight would send the series back to Toronto for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.

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