The Toronto Maple Leafs are going through a difficult stretch as the season moves into March. Losses have started to pile up, and the team has slipped down the standings in the Atlantic, which is exceptionally tight this season.
During this period, attention has moved toward Captain Auston Matthews. His recent goalless stretch has become a major talking point.
Auston Matthews Opens Up About 10-Game Goal Drought As Maple Leafs Continue Struggling
The current losing skid has been frustrating for Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Additionally, the star center has gone 10 straight games without a goal, one of the longest droughts he has experienced during his NHL career.
Toronto’s recent matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers showed how difficult the stretch has been. The Leafs lost 3-2 in a shootout at Scotiabank Arena, even though Matthews created several scoring opportunities during the game.
Matthews recorded 8 shots on goal and continued pressing during overtime, where he registered 4 attempts. None of those shots crossed the goal line, which kept the game tied before it moved to a shootout, where Trevor Zegras scored for Philadelphia.
In the next two games against the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers, Matthews has registered 10 more shot attempts but failed to score.
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The loss to Rangers added to a tough run for Toronto. The Maple Leafs have now dropped 6 games in a row since returning from the Olympic break and currently sit 7th in the Atlantic Division with a 27-25-11 record.
Despite the recent scoring drought, Matthews has still been productive during the 2025–26 season. He has recorded 26 goals and 52 points in 57 games, keeping him among the team’s top offensive contributors.
After the game, Matthews spoke about the situation and acknowledged how difficult the stretch has been, even though he feels the chances are there.
“It’s tough. I think these last three games I’ve had a lot of good chances just haven’t been able to see one go in. But the chances are there. Sometimes you go through these stretches & you’ve just got to grind your way out of them.”
This stretch now stands as the second-longest goal drought of Matthews’ NHL career. His longest came during the 2016-17 season when he went 13 games without scoring early in his rookie campaign, shortly after his four-goal debut against the Ottawa Senators.
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Head coach Craig Berube has recently tried different line combinations in search of offensive production. In recent games, Matthews has skated alongside William Nylander and Bobby McMann, and the trio created multiple scoring chances even though the goals did not come.
Toronto will next face the Tampa Bay Lightning at home in Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs are 16-10-7 at home, which gives them an advantage and could potentially help Matthews end his drought.
