Leafs captain Auston Matthews didn’t shy away from taking responsibility for his costly overtime error, candidly addressing the mistake that led to the team’s recent loss. Matthews admitted that his turnover was a tough pill to swallow, particularly given the high stakes of the moment.

“It’s on me,” Matthews said. “I tried to make a play, and it didn’t go our way. In those situations, you just have to be smarter with the puck.”

The star forward expressed disappointment, especially knowing the impact his mistake had on a tight game. He acknowledged the need to balance his aggressive playmaking style with situational awareness, especially in critical moments like overtime.

“I’ve got to be better,” he added. “These are the types of games we need to lock down, and that starts with decisions I make out there.”