Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is a name that usually commands excitement and confidence whenever he steps onto the ice.

Last night, as the Leafs kicked off their season with a convincing victory over the Montreal Canadiens, Matthews’ stat line showed what every fan hoped to see—a goal, marking a positive start after a challenging previous season.

But beneath the surface of that 5-2 win and the captain’s empty-net tally, a quietly troubling detail emerged that might have gone unnoticed in the post-game celebration.

While teammates like William Nylander and Morgan Rielly made headlines with their dynamic performances, and goaltender Anthony Stolarz dazzled between the pipes, Matthews’ impact was surprisingly muted.

One shot on goal—the empty-netter—was all he managed throughout the entire game, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. Was this just a case of opening night nerves, or is there a deeper issue lurking beneath the surface?

With Matthews having limited preseason action and now adjusting to life without Mitch Marner, questions about his readiness and role are starting to swirl.

Is the Leafs’ captain truly back to form, or is there reason for concern as the season unfolds? Read on to uncover the full story behind Matthews’ puzzling performance.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews

Photo credit: Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored a goal against the Montreal Canadiens last night, but if you were paying attention, he wasn’t very good.

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs won their season opener against the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 5-2, and for all intents and purposes, it was a success.

William Nylander finished the night with one goal and two assists, while Morgan Rielly also scored a big goal down the stretch to win the Leafs the game.

Anthony Stolarz was also phenomenal as he faced 30 shots on goal. As for captain Auston Matthews, he had an empty-netter late in the game.

On the stat sheet, it will show that Matthews had a goal, which is good when you consider how he struggled to score through all of last season.

Unfortunately, when you dig a bit deeper, there is something concerning that pops off the stat sheet, and fans should be very wary about it going forward.

Toronto Maple Leafs need more from Auston Matthews

The captain only had one shot on goal all game, and that was his empty-netter. Throughout the rest of the game, the captain did not manage a single shot.

At five-on-five and on the power play, Matthews was rendered completely ineffective, which is a very bad sign. Although, hopefully, it was just game one jitters.

During the preseason, Matthews only played two games, which was entirely by design. Perhaps this actually hurt him in the long run.

He scored a goal in both preseason games, which shows that his injury from last season isn’t affecting him too much. That said, the effort needs to be better.

Without Mitch Marner, he is going to have to adjust, and that could take a while. For now, fans should still keep an eye on this.