Maple Leafs Full Media Availability | Post Game at Washington Capitals | December 18, 2025

What made the Capitals a challenge for you guys tonight? >> Well, obviously a good hockey team, but we just didn’t make it hard enough on them. You know, just too easy to get into our zone. And, you know, obviously tonight, uh, you know, we probably weren’t as clean or as crisp as the puck with we we like it. And that’s when you just got to really, you know, dig in and be just very difficult to to play against. And um you know eventually after uh good checking for checking wearing an opponent down things start to come and and you earn uh you know you earn good things and put yourselves in a spot to win the hockey game. >> Change on the power play John. Well, obviously execution has just hasn’t been good enough. And um obviously our puck support, our ability to uh just uh be sharper and and just harder and and just being very determined to uh you know be better than the penalty kill and and create opportunities and obviously eventually put the puck in the net, especially with the personnel we have. How do you explain that that you weren’t able to build off, you know, the third period, come back last game and take some momentum scoring? >> Yeah, I mean, each game is their own um its own challenge. You know, to me it was a night where uh you know, we weren’t really crisp with the puck. Things weren’t always clean and um that’s where you got to fall back on on just being a really difficult team to play against and we just weren’t weren’t weren’t uh weren’t tough enough to play against today. How concerned are you that there’s been maybe too many of those nights this season? >> Well, clearly we’re not in a spot we we want to be in. I mean, but uh we’re not far off from uh being in a really good spot. We just, you know, we we have to realize night in and night out uh just uh how much more consistent we have to be with our game. was a challenge. >> Um I mean I thought we just made it really easy on easy for them. Um the neutral zone was you know a highway for them to get through and um yeah just I don’t know we just made it so easy for them and they’re obviously a skilled team a lot of talent a lot of speed and um you know I don’t think we put enough stress on them on both sides of the puck. >> What else to change on the power play? >> I don’t know. I mean just execution like um you know it’s like one two passes and then like the next one’s you know not a good one or it’s just not being executed and um you know I thought we had some good progress and then tonight was definitely a step back in that regard just as far as execution goes opportunities um couldn’t really get much going in that regard especially in a game where uh there’s not much offensively going on. >> Why was it difficult for your line in particular to get things going offensively? >> Uh I don’t know. I mean, it’s just uh you know, it’s it’s tough to kind of pinpoint what that was. I mean, I think it was a number of different things. Um, you know, as a team, I just don’t think we competed hard enough. Uh, they won more battles, and like I said, we just didn’t make it hard on them. Um, didn’t win puck battles, didn’t check well. you know, a team that has that amount of skill that um you know, plays um a lot of East West like that, it’s it’s going to be an easy night for them when you can’t break up plays or uh you’re not on top of people with speed. >> How concerning is that if competitiveness is an issue? >> Um I mean, I think that’s got to be the main, you know, point of focus each and every night. Like we don’t have to be the best team in the world every single night, but we need everybody to compete and we never need everybody to just play good. you know, everybody just got has to go out there and do their job and play good. Um, and you know, just the consistency that’s been a big part of it. Um, over 60 minutes throughout this whole year, it’s been tough to find um, you know, games with just full consistency where, you know, we’re each line’s playing the right way, doing little little things correctly um, for a full 60 minutes. It’s never going to be perfect, but um just that momentum and that structure that we need to play with. It’s been tough to find that for um you know full games this year. >> Mentioned step back on the power play. Do you think something needs to change from that from what you guys are doing or personnel or what? >> I mean it’s just execution like like I said. I mean we get in there and we make you know couple good plays and then you know it’s like the next play uh isn’t the right play or it’s not executed the right way or it’s just one and done. um five on five and on the power play as well. So um you know things are feel like or felt like they’re moving in the right direction. Obviously on a night like tonight um you know when you have that kind of effort in all areas of the game and um you know you get blanked on the road it’s obviously you know not a good feeling but um I don’t think it’s it’s personnel or it’s any of that stuff. It’s it’s simply just execution and competitiveness and making uh making the right decisions with the puck. Blame, what made the Capitals a challenge for you guys here tonight? >> I mean, I think they were controlling the game. Um, they just played a great game and we were not playing good hockey today. >> Why is that? >> I don’t know. I think we’re a little bit disconnected. I mean, some stints were we got them, but I mean, it’s not good enough. I mean, a couple shifts here and there is not going to cut it. >> What needs to change on the power play? Yeah, I think I mean the power play was trending in the right uh direction. I mean I think second unit had some really good looks today. Um I don’t know. I think we just got to simplify a little bit and you know just get an attack mindset. They did a good job but I mean we got to be better. >> Why do you think finding a consistent game building wins upon wins has been more difficult this season than in the past? >> I don’t know. That was a tough question. >> Thank you. >> However, what made the Capitals a difficult challenge for you guys tonight? >> Uh, I think they were a little bit more desperate than us. Um, obviously, uh, we got to come out harder. I thought, uh, we were pretty flat the whole night. Didn’t really create anything. We gave up a lot of chances and and uh, yeah, they um, they looked uh, good. How do you explain that they’re more desperate when you look at the standings and maybe you guys should be? >> No, I I agree. Totally agree with you. That’s what we’re talking about. That’s what we want to do. Um but it’s one thing to talk about it. It’s another thing to do it. Um and I think uh that’s the hard part right now. Uh and that’s uh that’s something we need to figure out. I think we uh I mean it’s going to be nice that you don’t have it. Uh it’s going to be nights that you don’t have the puck play. Uh but the compete is got to be there. Uh so uh that’s something that we have to bring every single day and and uh I thought they uh competed a little bit harder than us today. >> Why did your power play struggle today? >> I thought we had some good looks, but obviously didn’t get uh get the goals, get the results. Is it particularly disappointing that you guys had that momentum drive to finish the game the previous one and it wasn’t kind of you weren’t able to carry that forward into >> Yeah. Uh I don’t think we deserved better tonight. Um I thought uh um yeah turned too many pucks over. had to defend a little bit too much and and uh yeah, I think the power play is gonna have to step up too because it’s big big part of it like you you talked about uh and you don’t get any points for for looking good sometimes. So, uh but it’s a start and and um I think um yeah, we got to got to work we got some work to do here. >> Was does that work involve maybe mixing up the units? Like what do you think kind of the answer is especially with power? I think uh I think it’s just uh working hard obviously uh getting the looks being desperate at the at the same time on on a power play wants to shoot the puck wants to to kind of give your teammate more more time and space and and and uh and it’s tough. I mean, when you’re uh struggling a little bit on the power play, you’re overthinking it sometimes and and uh I think um yeah, just kind of get back to the ba basics and and and um maybe shoot a little bit more and uh be a little bit harder in front of. >> What’ you make of the work Dennis did? Pretty busy night for him. >> Yeah. No, he’s been he we had talked about it so many times. I think he’s been he’s been unbelievable. Uh it could have been a lot worse uh than it was. Uh he he made some big saves on on the PK and and uh yeah throughout the night. Uh but uh yeah, he’s been looking really good. >> Craig, what made the Capitals a challenge for you guys here today? >> Ourselves. You know, we had power play opportunities. Power play was not good. Um it’s got to be a lot better. And to me, they played with more passion than we did tonight. I mean, that’s what it boils down to. It it looked to me like they had um way more urgency in their game, more passion in their game. That’s the difference. >> How do you explain that considering where you are at this stand? >> Pass those guys, not me. >> Is it disappointing for you given what? >> Very disappointing. It’s, you know, very disappointing. Um >> Yeah, disappointing for sure. >> What needs to change on the power play in particular? Well, the power play’s actually been getting better, but tonight it was it got awful in my opinion. I thought um the other unit did some good things, you know. Um they had a couple opportunities and just just, you know, they misfired, didn’t go in couple ch they had some good chances, but our top unit um didn’t execute. Um didn’t win any battles when they needed to. >> Just couldn’t make plays. >> You loaded up your top line again. Did you see enough of them tonight? >> No, not even close. >> Did you talk to the guys after the game or is that >> I did not talk to him tonight after the game. >> Is it time for something more extreme with the foul play in terms of first person personality? >> Yeah, could be. Yeah, for sure. Um, that’s something we’ll definitely look at. >> Four shots in the first period. How do you explain like another slow start? >> Well, it was all special teams, right? I think was it five power plays in the first period? >> Yeah. So, I mean, we had two. We had what do we have? Did we have three? I think >> I mean, we got to get we got to get shots, but when you don’t execute and >> you don’t look to shoot. Um, just slow. Well, I mean, I could keep going, but there’s no use in doing that. >> Are you concerned that your message isn’t getting through? >> No, I don’t think I’m concerned about that. I mean, the message is the message. Um, you know, they need to take it and and go with it. So, but I’m not concerned with it. No.

Head coach and players speak with the media following the Leafs 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

00:00 – John Tavares
01:55 – Auston Matthews
04:53 – William Nylander
05:56 – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
08:48 – Craig Berube

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30 comments

  1. Can't understand a Leafs team Franchise Record for points one year and the next year the players FORWARDS are playing like they all took downers not smelling salts. Total stinker. We have good players but the millionaires except for a few are I do not know not in the right head space.

  4. Get Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour on the team and in the dressing room as special coaches. Instead of the alumni throw in Darcy Tucker too. Hire them, If anything keep them 3 in the dressing room to stare down the players. Heck they can just sit in chairs and stare down the team, b4 the game and between periods. Just that presence in the room should do something and no more video games, these are grown men playing with toys, come on.

  5. Too many games have the same post game comments ….and there are too many issues to list. When do the players that make the most money earn it consistently? If our PK and PP is so bad, time for new Assistant coaches???

  9. Im so happy matthews decided to step it up this year as captain. Being the driving force when not everyone has it. Blows my mind that hes the captain of the US, thats beyond hysterical.

  10. This season, Leafs having a PP is just letting the other team have a great opportunity to score. I don't know how to fix this team but it needs an intervention. Ever since the loss to the Panthers last spring, they've lost something important. The mojo isn't there. No desire. Really difficult to watch.

  12. 9+ seasons and now they literally look soft slow not interested at all to play hockey , cant take criticism and play hard , get these clowns out of here finally and dont get me started on savard that dude SUCKS how he has not been let go yet is probably berube protecting him get savard out of here too man

  13. Reilly, Domi, and Matthews should be traded they don't deserve to be on this team anymore! Matthews doesn't look like a captain, he looks like he doesn't even care. Berube just looks defeated.

  14. Mitch Marner assisted 326 times on Austin’s 401 goals with the leafs. The Leafs ran the wrong guy out of town. Now the Leafs are stuck with a no show captain that cant drive a line. Has zero heart. Zero will to win. Cares only about himself and doesn't hate to lose. All that for 13 million a year. What a joke.

  21. I suggest watching the third goal.

    Watching that third goal kind of sums up the Leafs effort on the season, Bobby McMann who should be a work horse giving 100% every shift doesn't move his feet (not even one stride) let's Chychrun skate by him (McMann waves at him with his stick) then I think Benoit (another guy that should be giving 100%) comes in also not moving his feet and waves his stick at him…

    These guys get paid millions… I honestly think they get paid way too much and there needs to be clauses in their contract where if the team doesn't make the playoffs they get 25-50% less salary.

  25. If Matthews needed Marner that much to score he's not as good as his salary dictates. For three years that I remember the top PP line gets 1.5 minutes of the PP then the second line comes on and looks so much better with puck movement and actually getting shots through but they keep leading with Matthews line. WTH. Change the line.

  27. you can tell a winner from a loser. and not even on the ice itself but during interviews. watch mcdavid, crosby, tkachuk and so forth and see the passion whether it's winning or losing. there's emotion, anger and so forth. these guys have nothing of substance to say.

  29. Are they saying execution as in like, they aren't able to play the game of hockey properly? Like to the point they don't even look like an NHL team? Even a Blackhawks team with probably a third of the cap hit on the ice was a challenge to beat. And required some luck.

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