“His demeanor has been unbelievable”: Fans rage as Mitch Marner praises Auston Matthews despite playoff disappearance

The Toronto Maple Leafs are back on home ice for Game 5 of their intense playoff battle against the Florida Panthers, and all eyes remain on star center Auston Matthews — even though he has yet to find the back of the net in this series. After jumping out to a 2-0 series lead, Toronto surrendered back-to-back games in Florida, and now the second-round matchup is all tied up.While Auston Matthews’ lack of scoring has raised eyebrows, teammate Mitch Marner made it clear that confidence within the locker room hasn’t wavered — not in Matthews, and not in their mission.Auston Matthews, one of the NHL's elite goal scorers, has been held off the scoresheet through four games in the series — an unexpected drought for a player who netted 69 goals during the regular season. Yet inside the Maple Leafs’ dressing room, there’s no panic.“Everyone wants to produce, wants to score goals, and he hasn’t let it get him down at all,” said Marner after Tuesday’s practice. “His mood, his demeanor in the locker room has been unbelievable. Stay patient. This is a hard team to score against. They’ve done it all year.”Marner’s comments serve not only as support but also a reminder that Matthews’ value goes beyond the stat sheet. His presence on the ice draws defenders, opens space, and contributes to Toronto’s offensive flow — even if the goals haven’t come yet.The Panthers' success in shutting down scorers isn’t exclusive to Matthews. Florida ranked seventh in the league during the regular season in goals against, allowing just 2.72 per game — a trend that has continued into the playoffs. Still, Matthews feels due for a breakout. And if it comes, it could be a game-changer.Also Read: "You'll never be as good as your dad": How brutal criticism pushed Wayne Gretzky's son Ty Gretzky away from pro hockeyThe Maple Leafs know they need to regroup and protect home ice in Game 5. With the series hanging in the balance, the timing couldn’t be better for Matthews to silence the slump — and Marner’s public vote of confidence may be exactly the spark the Leafs' superstar needs.