The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the New York Rangers in a coin-flip one-goal game that could have went either way.
The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to get a point for the first time since November 11th (when the lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins).
Had the Leafs forced OT, they would have celebrated the 5th week anniversary of not losing a game today.
Still, they went over a month without a real loss, and went just 3 hours short of 34 days without one.
Good times indeed.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs New York Rangers
The Leafs might have picked up points in 15 straight games, but that didn’t stop them from losing this one in the Leafiest way possible: Failing to make history while fully deserving the victory.
The 5v5 stats show what I’m talking about:
31-7 Leafs in scoring chances.
12-3 in dangerous scoring chances.
That is an absolute beatdown. Congrats on Igor Shesterkin for winning a game his team had no business winning.
Marner’s streak is over as well. He came close, but what can you do?
The Leafs have a real complaint about the officiating of that game. Somehow the Rangers were assessed only three minor penalties, despite constantly slashing, interference and holding Leafs players all night.
At one point Mitch Marner was slashed in the hand. He had the puck, so it’s hard to know why neither of the two referees saw it happen. Also, the fact that the Rangers player broke his stick doing it made it pretty weird no penalty was called.
The Rangers scored the winning goal just shortly after.
And what a way to lose. I’m sorry, but I had no idea Jimy Vesey could even make a move like that. Hard to blame TJ Brodie cause he’s TJ Brodie, but that was a pretty embarrassing play. Essentially he got posterized by a replacement player.
Obviously the Leafs won a lot of games on that streak where they didn’t deserve to – it’s the only way to win more than 55% of your games, in fact. But this one still hurts, just based on the fact that it was essentially the ideal game from the Leafs perspective: one in which they give up next nothing while waiting constantly having the puck and dictating the course of play.
Ultimately, Marner’s streak ends on a night where he had a 76% Corsi, and the Toronto Maple Leafs outshot the Rangers 7-1, and out-chanced them12-0 with Marner on the ice.
In one of the best games anyone could possibly play without scoring a point, Marner posted a 90% Expected Goals rating, and took three shots individually. He should be the current favorite for the Hart Trophy, though he isn’t.