Drake Batherson, Senators Rally in 5-2 Blowout That Leaves Leafs ‘Embarrassed’
drake batherson scored as part of a two-goal night as the Ottawa Senators handed the Toronto Maple Leafs a 5-2 loss on Saturday night (ET), a game Leafs captain Auston Matthews called “just fairly embarrassing. ” The defeat extended Toronto’s skid to three straight games coming out of the Olympic break and deepened questions about team effort and leadership.
Senators seize control — Drake Batherson leads the way
The Senators, who improved to 29-22-8, turned the game with a dominant run that included 19 consecutive shots and three straight goals that flipped momentum after an early Toronto lead. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each scored twice, and Thomas Chabot added a goal; Cozens also recorded an assist. For the game, Ottawa outshot Toronto 40-23 and took control after the first period.
Leafs reaction: embarrassment and disconnect
“Just bad. Just fairly embarrassing, to be honest with you, ” said Auston Matthews, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, in remarks after the game on Saturday night (ET). The Maple Leafs had opened the scoring when Morgan Rielly put the club ahead, but Toronto was outscored 1-0 and outshot 16-0 for the remainder of the first period, a stretch that set the tone for the night.
“We need to have more pride in our play, no matter where we’re at, no matter what the situation is, ” Matthews added. Forward William Nylander, who scored one of the Leafs’ goals, said: “It’s hard. It’s the first time in a long time we’ve been in this position when we’re out looking in. So we gotta figure it out pretty quickly. ” Defender Jake McCabe described the collapse bluntly: “Good first five minutes, I thought. Obviously got the first goal, which we’ve been searching for. And then we [expletive] the bed after that. ” All comments came during postgame availability on Saturday night (ET).
Coach’s comments deepen scrutiny of leadership
Head coach Craig Berube questioned the club’s commitment in visible fashion, telling players after the game that he “can’t give (the Leafs players) this or this” while pointing to his heart and head and adding that players “gotta bring the heart and the competitiveness that’s needed. ” Those postgame remarks have intensified talk about his standing with management and the squad during a stretch where Toronto has lost three straight games after a three-game winning streak coming out of the Olympic break.
The Maple Leafs entered the game eight points out of a wild-card spot with their nine-season playoff streak under pressure; the club’s record was 27-24-9 at the time of the game.
What’s next: roster decisions, trade-deadline pressure
General Manager Brad Treliving faces mounting pressure to alter the roster before the March 6 trade deadline (ET), and the club has 22 games left in the regular season. With the Senators’ win boosting their slim post-season hopes and Toronto slipping, attention will turn to whether management moves to change the roster or coaching situation. Observers will watch closely how the Leafs respond on the ice in the coming days and whether actions are taken before the March 6 trade deadline (ET).
Meanwhile, drake batherson’s performance and Ottawa’s sustained pressure in this game are likely to be replayed in Leafs meetings as Toronto searches for answers and urgency in the weeks ahead.
