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Toronto Maple Leafs: 5 Games Without a Regulation Win

By James Tanner

CALGARY, AB - JANUARY 26: Frederik Andersen #31 and Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after defeating the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on January 26, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - JANUARY 26: Frederik Andersen #31 and Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after defeating the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on January 26, 2021 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Jets last night, in what was a pretty bad game overall for them.

The Toronto Maple Leafs best player was completely unnoticeable, their goalie was bad, their best defenseman had a terrible game and so did the referees.  It was one to forgot.

The loss marked the fifth game in a row the Leafs failed to win in regulation, though that makes it seem much worse than it actually is.  In the early season the Leafs were winning every one-goal game and coming out on top even when the didn’t deserve to.

Over the last five games, the Leafs probably deserved to win four of them, the exception being last night.  Nothing soothes a losing streak though like a game against the Senators, which they have tonight.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs the Jets

The Leafs are 1-4 in their last five, and they are still in first place in the NHL standings.  Their first big losing streak of the season has come while they’re actually playing well so I don’t think it’s a cause for concern.

What is cause for concern is Auston Matthews and Freddie Andersen.

Why the Leafs don’t just giver Matthews two weeks off to heal his wrist seems short sighted to me.  He clearly can’t shoot the puck like he normally does, and the playoffs are all but guaranteed at this point.

As for Andersen, he’s a pending free-agent who won’t be back, so the team should be looking around to see what else is out there.  Goalies are pretty mercurial, so even if you acquired someone better, there’s no promises.

The thing about Andersen though is that even if you can’t upgrade on him, how much worse can Jack Campbell be? Couldn’t the cap hit of Andersen help elsewhere in the lineup?  Wouldn’t the Leafs be a better team with a slight downgrade in net and a huge upgrade elsewhere?

I don’t honestly know, and maybe it doesn’t matter.  Andersen is a perfectly adequate goalie and as a fan, I really like him and would hate to see him go.

Next. Who Is Available, Who Is Untouchable?. dark

As for the Jets, I can’t believe they took five of six points while getting dominated in at least six of nine periods.  I also think hand passes should be legal, as long as you don’t close your glove on the puck. I mean, why does hockey have so many dumb rules to limit offense? Offsides are dumb too.

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