Editor In Leaf
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 25: Fans cheer for Dave Ayres during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina.  (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 25: Fans cheer for Dave Ayres during the game between the Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes at at PNC Arena on February 25, 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina.  (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

#1. February 22nd, 2020

It was a typical February Saturday night in Toronto. Curl up with friends and family, grab a beer and watch the Toronto Maple Leafs for Hockey Night in Canada.

However, we had no idea what we were in for that night.

Battling the Carolina Hurricanes for playoff position, this game was very important. The Leafs had already had a tough month, but coming off a big 4-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins two nights prior, it felt that momentum may have been on Toronto’s side.

After leading the game 1-0 after the First Period, the team came out flat and were down 4-1 before you could blink in the Second Period.

As the Hurricanes were destroying the Leafs, Hurricanes’ starting goaltender Petr Mrazek left the game with an injury, so former Leaf James Reimer stepped in to replace him.

Just over six minutes after replacing Mrazek, Reimer also suffered an injury and was out of the game.

So now what?

Both Hurricanes’ goaltenders were done for the evening, so who would replace him?

A name that nobody had ever heard of when the night started was about to become the biggest new-story of the NHL season.

A 42-year-old emergency back-up goaltender named David Ayres who works with the Toronto Maple Leafs joined the game and was now in net for the Hurricanes.

Things did not look good for the Hurricanes when Ayres joined the game, as he allowed two quick goals to make the game 4-3, but things settled down when the Third Period started.

The Hurricanes played like the 1970s Montreal Canadiens in the Third Period and did everything to stop Toronto from scoring.

Ayres stopped every shot he faced in the Third Period and Toronto lost the game 6-3. It was such an embarrassing display of hockey by the Maple Leafs and another dark spot in their not-so-memorable season thus far.

Next. 1 Thing We Miss From NHL Team. dark

If you’re a huge hockey fan and have a love for Disney-like moments, this was one of the most memorable nights in NHL history, but it’s a loss the Toronto Maple Leafs sure would like to forget.

Home/Editorials