Toronto Maple Leafs captain urges team to raise its game after loss to the New York Islanders

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 4-1 at home to the New York Islanders on Saturday in a regular-season game of the NHL, North America's top ice hockey league. After the defeat, team captain Matthews said openly that the performance was not good enough and that every player, starting with the leaders, must take greater responsibility.

"We urgently need to improve our performance. Games keep coming one after another, and we have to be better in every aspect," Matthews said. He added that he considers himself and the experienced players capable of showing another level.

Leaders without points

Matthews and his linemate William Nylander each took just one shot on goal against the Islanders and finished without a point. It was the second time this season that the two failed to register points in the same game. The forward said the team gave up shots too often, which made the opponents' job easier. He acknowledged that the Islanders played well and battled hard, but said Toronto could have created better scoring chances.

Defence the weak spot

Defence has been Toronto's biggest problem at the start of the season: the team has conceded 32 goals in nine games. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, signed in the offseason, has become the first goalie in the club since 2009 to allow at least three goals in each of the first six games of a season.

Matthews nevertheless defended the veteran goaltender. He said Bobrovsky is playing great, that the team has left him hanging in recent games, and that this is the skaters' fault. In the captain's view, the team has to play better, because the goalie is doing his job.

The Maple Leafs play their next game overnight into Tuesday, hosting the San Jose Sharks.