Auston Matthews calls playoff loss a ‘Roller Coaster’ after Leafs stumble in Game 5 against Senators

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 30, 2025, 12:01 IST

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The Toronto Maple Leafs face growing pressure after a 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators in Game 5, narrowing their lead to 3-2 in the series. Despite early dominance, Ottawa has surged with confidence, outscoring the Leafs 8-3 in the last two games. Toronto must regroup quickly, will they rise to the challenge or face another early postseason heartbreak?

Auston Matthews calls playoff loss a ‘Roller Coaster’ after Leafs stumble in Game 5 against Senators

Leafs face crucial Game 6 after tough loss to Senators (Image via: getty Images)

Just when Leafs fans thought they could finally breathe easy, the ride took a sharp dive. The Toronto Maple Leafs, once up 3-0 in their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, now find themselves in dangerously familiar territory after a brutal 4-0 shutout loss in Game 5. Suddenly, the Senators are back in the fight, and the Leafs are facing serious pressure to close things out.

Leafs lose grip as Senators fight back

Auston Matthews tried to stay positive after the loss, calling the playoffs a “roller coaster.” He told reporters, “I think everybody's fine in here. The playoffs is a roller coaster. There's going to be ups and downs.”

But fans aren’t exactly feeling calm. They’ve seen these strong regular seasons before, early playoff leads, and then a slow fall apart. Since 2004, Toronto has only made it past the first round once, and now they’re dangerously close to repeating history.

Mitch Marner didn’t hold back. His message was “Playoffs are not supposed to be easy. This is never supposed to be easy. We knew it was going to be a challenge.” While his words carry truth, the team can’t afford to keep repeating this challenge, it’s time for Toronto to step up and prove they can handle the pressure.

Senators fight back as Leafs struggle to regain control

The first three games of the series were dominated by the Leafs, who outscored the Senators 12-6, showing off their offensive firepower. But since then, Ottawa has been in control, outscoring Toronto 8-3 in the past two games. The Senators have found a rhythm, playing with more confidence, aggression, and focus, while the Leafs are left scrambling to regain their composure.
Also Read: Maple Leafs fans flee Scotiabank Arena as Senators humiliate Toronto in 4-0 blowout
Toronto can’t afford to coast through any more games. The momentum is clearly shifting, and the Leafs need to find their footing quickly before it’s too late. The playoffs aren’t meant to be easy, but the true challenge now is whether the Leafs can push back and prevent another disappointing first-round exit. It’s now or never for Toronto to prove they have what it takes to rise above the pressure.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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