Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and defenseman Simon Benoit shared the press-conference table after Toronto’s 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 3.
More than any controversial statement made by the captain or the game-winning-goal scorer, it was a lighthearted moment between the teammates that ended up stealing attention postgame.
Benoit, who scored the game-winning goal just 1:19 into overtime, was fielding questions when a reporter asked him one in French.
Benoit responded quickly and as smoothly and fluidly as one could, prompting Matthews, sitting to his side, to appear caught completely off guard and looking sideways in amazement.
Auston Matthews’ reaction last night was absolutely hilarious—hearing Simon Benoit get asked questions in French. 😂
Has he never heard French before, or were the words just a little too complicated for him? 💀#LeafsForever
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) April 25, 2025
Benoit was asked whether the goal was the biggest of his career.
“I don’t score (many) goals, so I would say yeah,” Benoit said.
Benoit added that outside of this one, his most important goal might have been back in peewee hockey.
“Probably peewee or something,” Benoit said. “No, it’s fine,” he continued, wearing a big grin. “I mean, in the playoffs, it’s not always the same guys. It’s fun when other guys get a good goal, because we know it’s hard to score in the playoffs.
“So, getting that goal was exciting, that’s for sure.”
Following his goal and Game 2’s overtime assist to Max Domi, Benoit has quickly become an unlikely hero for Toronto after having only nine assists and one goal in 78 regular-season games.
“In the last two overtimes, he’s made big plays for our team,” Matthews said. “He’s come up big on the offensive side of the puck as well as the defensive side. So, it’s great to see.
“You need guys like that to step up this time of year. It takes a full group effort. And it’s great to see.”
Some fans reacted on X to the clip showing Matthews’s amazement at his teammate’s knowledge of the French language.
Benoit prob doesn’t get many of these interviews. I wonder how often if at all Matthews has heard him speak French
— Soulslayer434 (@Soulslayer434) April 25, 2025
“Benoit prob doesn’t get many of these interviews. I wonder how often if at all Matthews has heard him speak French.”
Auston being from Ariz. with such a Latin look I figured I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him answer a question in Spanish some day.
— Cal Dan (@DanPierce53) April 26, 2025
“Auston being from Ariz. with such a Latin look I figured I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him answer a question in Spanish some day.”
Missed opportunity for a reporter to then say, Auston do you agree! 😂😂
— RV (@Ipryde11) April 26, 2025
“Missed opportunity for a reporter to then say, Auston do you agree! 😂😂”
he was afraid of being asked a question in french, it’ll make a great meme
— Turk MD (@Turk747Turk) April 25, 2025
“He was afraid of being asked a question in french, it’ll make a great meme.”
Matthews is like “is there anything this man can’t do?”
— 🇨🇦 🏒 DAYO 🏒 🇨🇦 (@HapDay86) April 25, 2025
“Matthews is like ‘is there anything this man can’t do?’”
With the win, the Maple Leafs now lead the series 3-0 and have a chance to complete the sweep on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Reveals Game 3 Message to NHL Officials
Related: Senators Coach Makes ‘Disheartening’ Admission After Third Straight Loss to Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and defenseman Simon Benoit shared the press-conference table after Toronto’s 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators in Game 3.
More than any controversial statement made by the captain or the game-winning-goal scorer, it was a lighthearted moment between the teammates that ended up stealing attention postgame.
Benoit, who scored the game-winning goal just 1:19 into overtime, was fielding questions when a reporter asked him one in French.
Benoit responded quickly and as smoothly and fluidly as one could, prompting Matthews, sitting to his side, to appear caught completely off guard and looking sideways in amazement.
Auston Matthews’ reaction last night was absolutely hilarious—hearing Simon Benoit get asked questions in French. 😂
Has he never heard French before, or were the words just a little too complicated for him? 💀#LeafsForever
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) April 25, 2025
Benoit was asked whether the goal was the biggest of his career.
“I don’t score (many) goals, so I would say yeah,” Benoit said.
Benoit added that outside of this one, his most important goal might have been back in peewee hockey.
“Probably peewee or something,” Benoit said. “No, it’s fine,” he continued, wearing a big grin. “I mean, in the playoffs, it’s not always the same guys. It’s fun when other guys get a good goal, because we know it’s hard to score in the playoffs.
“So, getting that goal was exciting, that’s for sure.”
Following his goal and Game 2’s overtime assist to Max Domi, Benoit has quickly become an unlikely hero for Toronto after having only nine assists and one goal in 78 regular-season games.
“In the last two overtimes, he’s made big plays for our team,” Matthews said. “He’s come up big on the offensive side of the puck as well as the defensive side. So, it’s great to see.
“You need guys like that to step up this time of year. It takes a full group effort. And it’s great to see.”
Some fans reacted on X to the clip showing Matthews’s amazement at his teammate’s knowledge of the French language.
Benoit prob doesn’t get many of these interviews. I wonder how often if at all Matthews has heard him speak French
— Soulslayer434 (@Soulslayer434) April 25, 2025
“Benoit prob doesn’t get many of these interviews. I wonder how often if at all Matthews has heard him speak French.”
Auston being from Ariz. with such a Latin look I figured I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him answer a question in Spanish some day.
— Cal Dan (@DanPierce53) April 26, 2025
“Auston being from Ariz. with such a Latin look I figured I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him answer a question in Spanish some day.”
Missed opportunity for a reporter to then say, Auston do you agree! 😂😂
— RV (@Ipryde11) April 26, 2025
“Missed opportunity for a reporter to then say, Auston do you agree! 😂😂”
he was afraid of being asked a question in french, it’ll make a great meme
— Turk MD (@Turk747Turk) April 25, 2025
“He was afraid of being asked a question in french, it’ll make a great meme.”
Matthews is like “is there anything this man can’t do?”
— 🇨🇦 🏒 DAYO 🏒 🇨🇦 (@HapDay86) April 25, 2025
“Matthews is like ‘is there anything this man can’t do?’”
With the win, the Maple Leafs now lead the series 3-0 and have a chance to complete the sweep on Saturday night at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Reveals Game 3 Message to NHL Officials
Related: Senators Coach Makes ‘Disheartening’ Admission After Third Straight Loss to Maple Leafs
