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The captain of the US men’s hockey team returned to his NHL home, ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, and the Canadian faithful could have made it much worse during his return home.
Matthews, who helped Team USA beat Canada in the gold medal game, knew he would return north of the border at some point to continue his 2025-26 NHL season. But the recognition he got was surprisingly positive despite being part of the team that defeated Canada in Milan.
During a break in play against the Ottawa Senators, led by Matthews’ American teammate Brady Tkachuk, the Maple Leafs recognized the three players on their team who represented their countries at the Milan Cortina Games.
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Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up before facing the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on February 28, 2026 in Toronto. (Mark Blinch/NHLI)
After introducing Swedish stars William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the stadium public address announcer introduced the Leafs’ “gold medalist” captain Matthews, who initially received some ridicule.
The entire arena then rose to give Matthews a standing ovation when the announcer called him out. So instead of criticizing Matthews for what happened overseas, fans gave their veteran captain a round of applause before play resumed.
The TSN broadcast also showed Tkachuk on his senatorial bench, looking at the video board and smiling as Matthews was called.
Auston Matthews of the United States, right, celebrates after scoring his team’s fifth goal during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round game between the United States and Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Mathews was among Team USA stars who visited President Donald Trump and the White House ahead of his State of the Union address, sparking major reactions and criticism.
The players stood their ground, noting their American pride for why they decided to fly the Air Force plane to the White House after their historic victory over Canada.
And before returning home to Canada, Matthews and the Maple Leafs were in Tampa Bay against the Lightning, where the fans at Amalie Arena gave the visitor a strong reaction. A brief ovation from Lightning fans also rained down on the ice.
While Matthews has enjoyed winning his gold medal, this season has been difficult for Toronto. They sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a record of 27-24-9 (63 points), where they have now lost three games in a row after the 5-2 loss to the Senators.
Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck during the first period against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on March 1, 2026 in Toronto. (Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Matthews tallied an assist in the loss, while Tkachuk did the same for his winning team. Nylander scored one of the Maple Leafs’ two goals.
