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Top 5 Least Memorable Toronto Maple Leafs Moments This Year

By Stephen Nixon

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres signs autographs for fans during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 25: Dave Ayres signs autographs for fans during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ayres, in emergency relief, recorded eight saves, the win and first-star honors in his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 22. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 05: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

#5. California Road Trip

“California, Love!”

As the Leafs headed west for their only California road-trip of the season, that song was definitely playing upon take-off.

The Leafs had just won three games in a row and were off to face three of the worst teams in the Western Conference.

For years, the California road-trip was one of the hardest trips in hockey. Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose were three power-house teams in the Western Conference and were typically the top three seeds in the Pacific Division.

Both the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings have won Stanley Cups in the past 15 years, while San Jose has made a Stanley Cup Final and is probably the best NHL franchise not to win a Stanley Cup over the past 20 years.

After three straight wins and feeling good, many thought six points were on the horizon for the Leafs.

Anytime you can leave Toronto and head south in the wintertime is a blessing, so the sunshine and good weather must have been the Leafs minds as they arrived in San Jose because they got out-shot 38-27 and lost to the Sharks 5-2.

There was one bright spot in that game though.

After a disappointing loss in San Jose, the Leafs hoped to get a win going against the Los Angeles Kings.

Facing a team that is second-worst in Goals For in the NHL, it felt like an easy win. Despite limiting the Kings to zero goals in the regulation, the Leafs couldn’t score either and lost 1-0 in a shootout.

After back-to-back tough losses, there was no way the team was going to lose to Anaheim, right?

Wrong.

The team could only score one goal as they lost 2-1 to the Ducks. As one of the most offensive talented teams in the NHL, the Leafs only scored three goals in three games.

After what looked to be an important road-trip which would give them some playoff cushion, the Leafs decided to take their own March Break and only came home with one point.

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