The Toronto Maple Leafs have a history that dates back more than a hundred years.
So it is kind of weird that the longest scoring streak in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs was just 18 games. You would figure that a 20 or so game streak would have happened by accident over that much time.
But much like the rest of the Leafs history, it’s better just to say whatever and not worry about it too much.
The streak is now 19 games and counting, as Mitch Marner scored twice, once short handed. Hopefully he’ll continue to make history all the way to game 52 to beat noted gambling salesman Wayne Gretzky
The Leafs lost, but it was an OT loss, so it’s basically a tie. (stats from naturalstattrick.com).
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Auston Matthews had eight shots, but could not beat Vasilevskiy, who had Matthews number dating back to last year’s playoffs (where I remind you yet again that the Leafs outplayed, and actually beat the Lightning, but their game six victory was disallowed by the NHL’s officiating incompetency, which required them to win five times in order to advance, a feat frankly too tall for anyone facing the back-to-back champs).
Really, for a road game against a top team where you are missing Rielly, Brodie (skating and back soon) and Muzzin, this was a great effort.
Holmberg had a breakaway disqualified by a dumb penalty, Tavares got a goal called back on a lousy call, and I believe there may have been a post or two along the way.
The Leafs really could have won this game about five different ways, even if the stats for the night were decidedly in Tampa’s favor.
The Leafs have only lost a single regulation game since October 30th, which can also be expressed by saying that the Leafs have exactly one regulation loss in their last 17 games.
Since the NHL rewards points for OT losses, and since OT is almost completely random, those six losses do not count as losses. In fact, it’s so improbable to go 1-6 in OT that you can’t really even be mad about it.
It’s just kind of funny.
Toronto Maple Leafs are on an absolutely insane 11-1-5 run, using three different goalies and 438 different defenseman.
Cheers to that.
They’ll try to keep the streak alive Tuesday in Dallas, where the big story will be the Robertson Brothers facing off for the second time.