The Leafs were once again without captain Auston Matthews, but things went sour this time around as the Senators blew them out. Fans booed the team off the ice. The Toronto Maple Leafs have had some tough defeats this season. Their record still looks strong, at 9-6-2 through 17 games, but their fans have been less than shy about voicing frustration, especially after <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/centre-depth-leads-way-for-senators-in-impressive-win-over-maple-leafs/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the team's 3-0 defeat to their provincial rivals</a>. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1856529491805302863'> </a></blockquote></div> With team captain Auston <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/auston-matthews-injury-has-gotten-worse-and-leafs-have-made-a-shocking-roster-move' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Matthews out due to injury</a>, it's fair to say the Leafs are generally happy with where they sit. � � Still, a few losses have hit hard. One angry fan even tossed a jersey onto the ice following a blowout home loss to the St. Louis Blues. More recently, frustration boiled over in the Battle of Ontario. Trailing 3-0 on Tuesday night, the team was booed off the ice at the end of the second period by fans who do not always treat their home teams with kids' gloves. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1856513817284403674'> </a></blockquote></div> This game ended in a shutout defeat as fans indeed became more concerned with early inconsistency and injury problems from the team. Even with 27 shots against former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, the Leafs couldn't break through. Getting booed on their ice, the reactions of fans escalated, a pattern that has become all too familiar for the franchise's loyal yet impatient supporters. Craig Berube was seen blasting his players on the bench too as he was not happy one bit. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1856510019996442695'> </a></blockquote></div> While Leafs fans are understandably annoyed, it's early in the season and the team holds a playoff spot. This November matchup against the Senators may sting, but it's far from season-defining. Perhaps what will work best for everybody is a measured response as the team works through these early challenges.