Auston Matthews and Leafs heading into familiar NHL territory

Fansided | March 9, 2026

Could there be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for Toronto despite their current trajectory?

Apr 13, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) skates with the puck as Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) defends in the second period in game one of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

With the way things have been going of late both on and off the ice, the Toronto Maple Leafs is on the verge of missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time during the Auston Matthews era.