Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube won't split up star forwards Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner for Friday's must-win Game 6 versus the Florida Panthers.
"These guys have been a combo for a long time, and they've had a lot of success," Berube said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "So, I trust them. I believe in them."
Matthews has just three goals in his last 21 playoff games, and he's been held to zero through five contests against the Panthers. Matthews and Marner were held off the scoresheet entirely in Games 4 and 5.
The Leafs were dismantled 6-1 in Wednesday's Game 5. Toronto's top line of Matthews, Marner, and Matthew Knies was heavily outplayed, as the unit was on the ice for two goals against and was outchanced 11-3 in 9:10 at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Over the full series, Matthews and Marner have been outchanced 42-27 at five-on-five, though the duo has won its five-on-five minutes 5-4, per Natural Stat Trick.
Matthews told reporters that nobody is 100% and that everyone is pushing through something at this time of the year, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.
The Maple Leafs are looking to stave off elimination and force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday. Toronto hasn't made the conference finals since 2002.
