Auston Matthews set the tone early and never let up as the Toronto Maple Leafs closed out the Ottawa Senators with a 4-2 win in Game 6, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The win, sealed at Canadian Tire Centre, came after a frustrating loss in Game 5. With the pressure mounting and questions swirling, the Leafs leaned on their captain, and Matthews delivered.
That timely performance drew praise from head coach Craig Berube.
Auston Matthews’ Leadership Shines As Leafs Eye Panthers In Second Round
“Our captain led the way,” Berube said postgame (via mapleleafshotstove.com). “He was just heavy, physical, and worked. He was competing. He touched all areas of the game for us tonight in a good way — PK, and he scored a big goal on the power play.”
Matthews got Toronto on the board with a power-play goal late in the first period, his first of the series. The goal gave the Leafs early momentum and helped break a dry spell for the team’s power-play unit.
But beyond the scoresheet, Matthews was dominant. He won 72% of his faceoffs, logged big minutes, and contributed on both the penalty kill and man advantage.
Leafs improve to 5-0 in the postseason when Auston Matthews & William Nylander score in the same game. pic.twitter.com/reHADu014T
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 2, 2025
His leadership proved vital in a game full of pressure points. After Ottawa’s David Perron tied it 2-2 in the third period, Toronto didn’t flinch. Veteran forward Max Pacioretty, back in the lineup after missing most of the season with injury, scored the go-ahead goal with under six minutes to go. William Nylander added an empty-netter to put the game away.
This wasn’t just a playoff win, it was a moment where Auston Matthews proved why he wears the “C.”
The 26-year-old forward brought more than goals to the ice. He brought a mindset shift.
After a tough loss in Game 5, Matthews emphasized confidence within the room over outside noise. That belief translated into a focused, structured team performance in Game 6.
“It’s about the 20, 25 guys that are in our room,” Matthews said (via NHL.com). “The belief in one another, doing it for one another and just going out there and competing. This one feels good.”
His attitude seemed to filter through the lineup. From the bottom-six grinding out tough minutes to key defensive plays like Scott Laughton’s crucial shot block late in the third, the Leafs looked like a unified group.
Toronto will now shift focus to the second round, where they’ll face the Florida Panthers, last year’s Stanley Cup champions. It will be a test of depth, structure, and leadership.
If Auston Matthews continues to play and lead the way he did in this series, the Leafs have every reason to believe they can go even further.