‘We Should Be Pissed Off’: Maple Leafs’ John Tavares, Auston Matthews, React To Another Blown Lead In Collapse Against Predators

The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to be in complete control on Saturday night, but what started as a dominant performance in the first period quickly turned into one of their most disappointing losses of the season.

Despite taking a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, the Leafs surrendered five unanswered goals, falling 5-2 to the struggling Nashville Predators, who had lost four straight games heading into the night.

It was an especially bitter defeat considering Toronto’s recent momentum.

The club had rebounded from a rough stretch, losing five of six, to win three straight games amid a hunt for first place in the Atlantic Division. Instead, their collapse in Nashville will leave a sour taste in their mouths heading back to Toronto. 

“We should be pissed off,” said John Tavares post-game. “It's a great opportunity to end a really good week the way we bounced back from a stretch that wasn't going our way. We weren't playing the way that we talked about our standard and the level of play we expect on a nightly basis. And it was a really good opportunity to go home and finish this trip in this week off really well. So it should piss us off and get us ready for another big week next week.”

The 34-year-old opened the scoring with a power-play goal, marking his 30th of the season – and the seventh 30-goal campaign of his career. At 34 years old, he became the second-oldest player behind Alex Ovechkin to hit the milestone this season, and he’s currently enjoying the third-highest goals-per-game average of his career (0.47).

Tavares has been heating up with three goals in his last two games, but his accomplishment was quickly downplayed after an uninspiring finish.

“We just didn't have a very good second period,” said John Tavares post-game. “Some of our detail coverage broke down with the odd man rushes for them, which got them on the board, got them in the game, got them in the lead, and their energy and their game built as the night went on… after the first period, our game just wasn't as sharp, wasn't as good.”

“It just felt like the momentum swung the other way and we weren't really able to get it back,” added captain Auston Matthews. “I think the inconsistencies, (are) not ideal, especially this time of year. You have a bad outing and we string together a couple of good games. And kind of another letdown like this. I think that's on us to make sure that we're consistent every night, no matter what the situation or no matter what the game presents. We need all 20 guys to be going and everybody to be on the same page at all times.”

It seemed like Toronto was ready to run away with the game in the first period. Playing with intensity and speed, the Leafs dictated the pace, executing zone-entry passes, controlling possession, and keeping the Predators on their heels.

Despite being one of the league’s best second-period teams this season, the Leafs were outworked and overwhelmed in the middle frame, allowing three unanswered goals to the 30th-placed Predators before giving up two more in the third.

It marked the club’s first loss in franchise history to the Predators when leading by multiple goals. 

So did the Leafs overlook their opponent? 

“No, definitely not,” Tavares said, dismissing the notion that the Leafs took the Predators lightly.

“I don't think that really came into that. I mean, I think we knew. I think we understand that any given night we're playing, we're going to get teams' best games. So that's not like that's going in one ear, out the other,” added Matthews. “We know that we're going to get teams' best games. We know they're going to compete and they're going to work. And so it doesn't matter where teams are in the standings, who they have in the lineup. If you go out there and get it outworked and not competed, it's going to be a hard night for you no matter what.”

Luckily, no ground was lost between the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning – with both teams losing on Saturday. As a result, the Leafs are still tied with the Panthers at the top of the Atlantic Division with 87 points.

The Leafs will look to turn the page as they head back to Toronto for a lone home game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, before taking a trip to California for a crucial three-game road trip. If they have any hopes of staying in the race for the top of the Atlantic Division, they can’t afford another letdown like the one in Nashville.

“We're not going to have the best game every night or not going to win every single game, But I think tonight was definitely one that we wanted to finish this little road trip off on the right foot, go back home with good confidence, good energy in the room,” said Matthews. “We got one more home game and then we're back out west. So, I mean, we're up and Adam. There's nothing we can do now, we've got to fix things.”

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