The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again preparing for back to back games as they'll host the San Jose Sharks tonight. It's been a tough ride so far which included back to back loses on Monday and Tuesday which has everyone frustrated. One of the most vocal players over the last week has been Auston Matthews. Despite his eight goals in 11 games, Matthews has been getting some heat for his defensive play. The losing is frustrating but like Jake Muzzin, he knows better things are coming. «You don't want to lose; I hate losing,» said Matthews. «So you're frustrated, but it's still early. We've still got new guys and we're still trying to mesh as a team and come together. But when we look around at the guys that we have, I think we expect more out of each other. So that's just holding one another accountable, putting the past in the past, and putting our best foot forward.» Matthews isn't hiding it either he knows he can be better defensively. «Just defensively [I can be better] and all areas,» he said Thursday.«I have to put the puck in the back of the net, create on offence, but it starts in the D-zone and I think that's an area that we've been trying to work on lately, especially today [at practice], so I've got to be better in that area moving forward.» Matthews also seems to admit things have gotten pretty intense lately in the Leafs' locker room. «We're a family here, but sometimes you gotta yell at your family,» Matthews said. «[Communication] is something that we can do a better job of and I think it's something that we are doing a better job of.»
