Auston Matthews calls Maple Leafs' performance vs. Senators 'embarassing'

"It's fairly embarrassing to be honest with you. We need to have more pride in our play no matter where we're at, no matter what the situation is. Got the first goal, which we've been searching for, then shit the bed after that."

"Confidence is a funny thing, we're certainly not quitting. It's a privilege to play in this league, certainly don't see anyone quitting out there...lack of confidence can do crazy things to our team, as we've seen through stretches this year."

"(Confidence) is very fleeting. Been around long enough that no matter how veteran you are, there's times where you don't have that confidence, and this is a tough game to play when you don't have it."

Following a divisional loss, team captain Auston Matthews and defenceman Jake McCabe expressed frustration with the team's performance, calling it embarrassing and criticizing their lack of pride. Despite scoring first, the team failed to maintain momentum. Currently at the bottom of the Atlantic division and facing potential playoff elimination for the first time in a decade, the team continues to struggle in crucial matchups. McCabe attributed the issues primarily to confidence rather than lack of effort, noting that even veteran players experience confidence fluctuations. Matthews echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the team is going through a difficult stretch following the Olympic break but emphasizing the players haven't quit.

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