Apr 13, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0bebc10c-458a-422b-b197-ef891871757b.jpeg] Apr 13, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Auston Matthews doesn't have the goals he had last season, but once the playoffs get going, that's all thrown out of the window. The Toronto Maple Leafs begin their quest for the ultimate goal on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators. They'll be darting for their first series win since 2023, and Matthews, the team's captain, will be leading the charge. 'Got To Quiet The Noise': Craig Berube Reveals What He's Learned The Most Since Becoming Head Coach of the Maple Leafs [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/7b8cf143-3865-4301-8776-f1fa28d5b636.jpeg] 'Got To Quiet The Noise': Craig Berube Reveals What He's Learned The Most Since Becoming Head Coach of the Maple Leafs Craig Berube is set to embark on his first Stanley Cup Playoffs as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. One day before his team takes on the Ottawa Senators in a best-of-seven first-round series, Toronto's bench boss was asked what he's learned the most about coaching the club. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/got-to-quiet-the-noise-craig-berube-reveals-what-hes-learned-the-most-since-becoming-head-coach-of-the-maple-leafs] He's had a down year production-wise, with just 33 goals this season. That, though, doesn't defeat the fact that Matthews has played exceptionally well in other areas of the ice throughout this year. According to NaturalStatTrick [https://www.naturalstattrick.com/playerteams.php?fromseason=20242025&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&stdoi=oi&rate=n&team=TOR&pos=S&loc=B&toi=0&gpfilt=none&fd=&td=&tgp=410&lines=single&draftteam=ALL], the 27-year-old led the Maple Leafs in Corsi-for (52.12) and expected goals-for (53.19) percentage at five-on-five this season. He also had the most blocked shots among Toronto's forwards (89), with the next forward, Steven Lorentz, 34 blocks behind Matthews. "For me, his play this year, I get his goals have dropped off, not from a lack of attempts or opportunities, it just doesn't always go in. But he played a great 200-foot game for us this year," Craig Berube said Saturday. "I think both sides of the puck, penalty kill, he understands, and for me, he's a great teammate, leadership-wise. I think he handles the situations that need to be handled on a daily basis around the team." 'We'll See Tomorrow': Maple Leafs Reveal Lineup For Game 1 Against Senators, But Could It Change? [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/d70a3845-cbe3-4112-b5a0-10a4dcf2fbfa.jpeg] 'We'll See Tomorrow': Maple Leafs Reveal Lineup For Game 1 Against Senators, But Could It Change? The Toronto Maple Leafs aren't changing much ahead of Game 1 on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/well-see-tomorrow-maple-leafs-reveal-lineup-for-game-1-against-senators-but-could-it-change] Players tend to turn their game up a notch entering the playoffs. The physicality, intensity, and speed change drastically. "You go through a lot of ups and downs to put yourself in this position," Matthews said ahead of Game 1 on Sunday. "I feel like we've put in the work, we've prepared. Got to go out there and execute, take it one game at a time, one shift at a time, and compete, play as a team for one another, and just go from there." ‘He’s Ready To Go’: Craig Berube All But Confirms Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz As Game 1 Starter Ahead Of Battle Of Ontario [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5882e038-3ba1-44f3-82d6-2a727303a205.jpeg] ‘He’s Ready To Go’: Craig Berube All But Confirms Maple Leafs Goaltender Anthony Stolarz As Game 1 Starter Ahead Of Battle Of Ontario The Toronto Maple Leafs held their first full skate of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, a day before the puck drops for Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators. While head coach Craig Berube didn’t officially name his starting goaltender for Game 1, his words left little doubt, with all signs pointing to Anthony Stolarz getting the nod. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/hes-ready-to-go-craig-berube-all-but-confirms-maple-leafs-goaltender-anthony-stolarz-as-game-1-starter-ahead-of-battle-of-ontario] The forward had one goal in six games before finishing off the season with three goals in as many games. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman [https://www.sportsnet.ca/podcasts/32-thoughts/] believes Matthews is tapering, a phrase primarily used by swimmers who conserve energy for a big swim meet. For Matthews, he's saving up his energy for the postseason. "I think Matthews, to me, it's almost like tapering a swimmer," Friedman said on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. "The thing about Matthews was, there were a lot of issues earlier this year. One of the things I heard was that surgery wouldn't solve the problem, it was a muscle thing, at least for the one he went to Germany for, and the hope was that it would heal and he would be ready for when it matters. "And I think the Maple Leafs are counting on that and that Matthews is properly tapered for now." What version of Matthews we see in the playoffs remains to be seen. But clearly, through this recent stretch of games, he's turned his play up. Now is the most important time of year, and the forward is ready for everything. Even the Toronto traffic, which Matthews said "gets worse" with the weather warming up and the playoffs getting underway. "There's definitely a different buzz to [the city of Toronto for the postseason]. It's always exciting." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] to never miss a story.
