Team USA men's hockey captain Auston Matthews returned to his NHL home ice at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where Canadian fans offered a surprisingly positive reception following the gold-medal game victory over Canada in the Milan Cortina Games.
During a stoppage in play against the Ottawa Senators, the Maple Leafs recognized the three players on their team who represented their countries. After introducing Swedish stars William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the arena PA announcer introduced Matthews, the "gold medalist" captain. While initial jeers were heard, the arena quickly rose to give Matthews a standing ovation.
Matthews was also part of a Team USA contingent that visited President Donald Trump at the White House, a decision that drew significant backlash. The team cited American pride for their visit. Prior to his return to Toronto, Matthews and the Maple Leafs played in Tampa Bay, where fans at Amalie Arena also offered a short ovation.
Despite the personal accolades, the Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling this season. They sit at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 27-24-9 record, having lost three consecutive games, including a 5-2 defeat to the Senators.