The Toronto Maple Leafs deserved to win last night's game. Let's get that out of the way first.
You can look at the stats, but you don't even need to: if you watched the Toronto Maple Leafs lose to the Columbus Blue Jackets (6-5 in overtime, for the second time in two weeks) you know who the better team was.
The Leafs lost for one reason, and one reason only: their goalie played like crap.
Samsonov is playing so badly he's basicaly put his career into jeopardy and could easily end up in the minors, on waivers or on another team. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out he's played his last game as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs - that's how bad its gotten.
The Leafs have now lost four of their last five games, three of them to really crappy teams (Ottawa, Buffalo, Columbus) and have an emergancy on their hands.
That emergancy? They have no goalie and their season is spriraling out of control.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Have No Goalie and Emergency on Their Hands
Losing four out of five has the Leafs only two points up on Tampa, who are currently 9th and outside the playoffs. The Leafs have games-in-hand, so it's a little better than it seems, but they don't have a goalie.
To come into the season with an injury prone rookie goalie, a guy you roasted in arbitration and a washed up 33 year old who hasn't posted an NHL quality season for five years was always risky, and no its blowing up in their faces.
It seems kind of like incompetance. I for one continue to regret the firing of Kyle Dubas, and this kind of BS is exactly why.
Joseph Woll isn't close to coming back. Ilya Samsonov is unplayable. Martin Jones shouldn't even be in the NHL anymore.
This is a problem.
As we saw when the Leafs were forced to use a whole bunch of AHL defenensemen at the same time, its really hard to make trades when other teams know you're in a pickle.
Frankly, it's kind of crazy that they haven't already called someone up or made a move. Tonight's game is against Carolina (the return of Michael Bunting!) and the Leafs have not made a move, which means if Jones gets hurt tonight - or also sucks - Samsonov could end up back in the net not even 24 hours after his Toskala-esque meltdown.
The Leafs do not have a goalie. Martin Jones is their starter right now. Let that sink in.