Auston Matthews isn't letting the Toronto Maple Leafs' long list of playoff disappointments get to him after the Tampa Bay Lightning forced a Game 7 with a 4-3 overtime victory Thursday.
"What's in the past is in the past, man," Matthews said after the loss, according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel. "We can't change that now. It's about this next game and going out there with a purpose, and with details, and just competing for 60 minutes or whatever it takes. We just gotta put our balls on the line and go for it."
"We have a great opportunity on home ice, Game 7, do or die, win or go home, and we should be excited about that opportunity," Matthews added, per Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.
Toronto led 3-2 in a hard-fought game heading into the third period, but Tampa Bay equalized on a 5-on-3 power play and Brayden Point delivered the winner in the extra frame.
The Maple Leafs are now 0-8 in opportunities to close out a series since Matthews was drafted in 2016. They're 0-9 dating back to 2013.
The Lightning, in fairness, are a tough out. The back-to-back defending champions have now won 17 consecutive games following a postseason loss dating back to 2020.
Toronto will look to win its first playoff series since 2004 on Saturday night.
