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Matthews, Rielly at a loss for words following loss to Sabres

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Mike Armenti
April 13, 2022 (10:37)

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The Leafs dropped another game to yet another inferior opponent on Tuesday night, appearing to mail it in against the Buffalo Sabres and giving away two valuable points in the standings with now just 9 games remaining. Thankfully, the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning also lost on Tuesday, meaning that neither team has gained any ground on the Buds.

Following the game, Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly and Alexander Kerfoot each spoke with the media, but none of them had really any good reason for why they could not skate away with two points to expand their lead over the Bruins and Bolts. Call me crazy, but I don't think it's the right time of the year to just shrug your shoulders.

"It just didn't seem like we had much energy on the bench, much energy on the ice. I thought there was definitely plays to be made, I think we just didn't do a good job of executing. I don't know.. I think it's just sometimes you have some of those nights where the execution is just off."

-Auston Matthews on not getting the job done on Tuesday

"Disappointing" is how Morgan Rielly described the loss to the Sabres, seeming to be at a complete loss for words otherwise. Like Matthews, Rielly also spoke of the team's inability to execute on Tuesday as a huge factor in why they didn't have any sustained success throughout the game.

"We're late in the season. I think fatigue.. it's around, but I don't think that's a cause for the loss tonight."

-Morgan Rielly on the team's energy level against the Sabres

Alexander Kerfoot gave credit where he felt credit was due, admitting that the Sabres have really had the Leafs' number this season. The Sabres have won 3 of the 4 meetings between the two Atlantic Division clubs this season, with the Leafs' only win being a 5-4 win back on November 15th. Now, with only 9 games left, Kerfoot believes the Leafs' biggest priority is finishing up strong and taking a healthy roster into the postseason.

"We want to be rolling. We want to be playing good, feeling good about our game. We don't want to let one game like this deter us. We're gonna come back - we've got 9 games left and we want to keep building and be rolling going into the playoffs."

-Alex Kerfoot on the Leafs' priority down the home stretch

The Leafs are next in action on Thursday against Alex Ovechkin and the always dangerous Washington Capitals. For Auston Matthews, it will be an opportunity to reach the 100-point plateau for the first time in his NHL career.

Previously on MapleLeafsDaily

Investigation into NHLPA director may go public with players' approval

Keefe sounds off on the Leafs' lack of effort against non-playoff teams

Ryan Hartman does what I'm sure just about every NHLer would like to do to Evander Kane

POLL
13 AVRIL \| 203 ANSWERS Matthews, Rielly at a loss for words following loss to Sabres Is "we just didn't execute" an acceptable reason for losing 3 of 4 games to the Buffalo Sabres?
No	76	37.4 %
The Sabres are better than they look on paper	58	28.6 %
Don't care, just win.	28	13.8 %
Sometimes you just have an off-night	41	20.2 %
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