The Toronto Maple Leafs went into Ottawa to play the Senators in the second half of a back-to-back. For a little while, you could almost convince yourself they were going to grind one out. They didn’t.
The Senators took over and skated away with a 5-2 win, and if we’re being honest about it, the scoreline might have been kind to Toronto. Ottawa came at the Maple Leafs in waves. Tim Stützle, Claude Giroux, Warren Foegele, Michael Amadio, and Ridly Greig all found the scoresheet, and it never really felt like Toronto had an answer once the game got away from them.
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There were moments. Easton Cowan brought some jump with a goal and an assist. John Tavares did what he’s done for more than a decade and found a way onto the board. But outside of a decent first period and a brief push in the third, there just wasn’t enough push or structure. Not enough response when things started to slip. Right now, that’s becoming a pattern.
Item One: Woll Gives Them a Chance—Again
If you’re looking for someone who held up his end of things, start with Joseph Woll. Thirty-eight saves on the second night of a back-to-back. He wasn’t even supposed to play, but he was solid.
Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
With Anthony Stolarz taking a puck to the throat in warmup, which is scary, Woll got the call again and just went about his business. It could not have been an easy spot. Physically, you’re already taxed. Mentally, after being called out by your coach, you’ve got to be nervous about resetting on the fly. Still, he gave them a chance.
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But the problem was that the team in front of him didn’t match it. There were too many breakdowns, too many second chances, and too many moments where coverage disappeared. You can survive one or two of those in a game. You can’t survive a night full of them. At some point, the group in front of the goalie has to make his life easier. Right now, they’re doing the opposite.
Item Two: Tavares Still Carrying His Weight
There’s something impressive about what John Tavares is doing, even if it’s getting lost in everything else swirling around this team. He scored his 25th goal of the season in this one and somehow finished a plus-2 on a night where things went sideways for most of the roster. That tells you he’s not just producing; he’s playing responsibly. There’s huge value in that kind of contribution.
In the bigger picture, this was the 14th time in his career that he’s hit the 25-goal mark. That kind of consistency defines his career. With over 500 goals on his resume, he’s in that category where production almost gets taken for granted.
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But on a team trying to find its footing, where that kind of consistency matters, he’s not even a headline anymore. Still, nights like this remind you he’s still a valuable part of whatever this team is trying to become.
Item Three: Luke Haymes Trending the Right Way
A little further down the depth chart, Luke Haymes is starting to put some things together with the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies. He put up a three-point night—a goal and two assists—in a 6-3 win that’s far below the front-page hockey news in Toronto. Yet it’s meaningful for a 22-year-old in his first full AHL season.
His production and confidence are growing. This season, he’s sitting at 16 goals and 29 points in 58 games. While no one’s rushing him to the NHL, he’s learning how to handle the grind and is starting to produce with some regularity. The Maple Leafs need players coming along the right way—just getting ready when the time comes.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
This kind of game—somewhere between competitive and flat-out sloppy—hasn’t been a one-off. It’s creeping into the team’s identity. There always seem to be stretches where the Maple Leafs just lose their grip on a game. Missed clears and blown coverage suddenly snowball. One goal becomes two. Two becomes three. Now you’re chasing instead of controlling.
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Good teams simply play differently. They get pucks deep and shorten shifts. They win a couple of ugly battles and reset the game. The Maple Leafs are not doing that consistently right now. Until they do, this is what games will look like.
