The Toronto Maple Leafs narrowly escaped with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night, but their inconsistent play and defensive lapses raised serious concerns as the playoffs loom.
While the win added two points to the standings, it did little to inspire confidence in their ability to compete at a Cup Caliber level. Despite flashes of success, the Toronto Maple Leafs performance fell flat after a strong first period.
Toronto came out of the gate with energy and control, setting the tone early. William Nylander was impressive in the opening frame, showcasing his poise and offensive creativity notching the Leafs first goal on the power play.
Calle Järnkrok, playing in just his third game since returning from injury, looked sharp and scored an important power play goal to give the Leafs a 2 goal lead. Simon Benoit also notched his first goal of the year in the first period putting the Leafs up by three. For a moment, it seemed like Toronto was poised to dominate a weaker Utah team. However, the rest of the game demonstrated the flaws in Leafs hockey.
The Leafs completely unraveled in the second period, allowing three goals in just four minutes. Defensive zone turnovers and an inability to protect the middle of the ice left goaltender Joseph Woll to fend for himself. Utah capitalized on Toronto’s mistakes, forcing head coach Craig Bérubé to call a timeout in the second in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Adding to the chaos, Simon Benoit dropped the gloves with Michael Kesselring right off a faceoff, delivering a Superman punch during their fight.
While Toronto managed to convert on two of their five power-play opportunities—a bright spot in an otherwise uneven performance—the team struggled to generate consistent offense as Utah took control of the game.
Penalties disrupted any rhythm they tried to establish, sidelining their offensive weapons, and their defensive structure remained shaky throughout. Despite the additions of Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo, who contributed defensively and on the penalty kill, neither player appeared to contribute much in this game. By the end of regulation, Toronto had been outshot and outworked by a team they should have handled more decisively.
The Toronto Maple Leafs narrowly escape with victory, avoid fourth loss in a row
Overtime provided more quality chances from both teams but also underscored Toronto’s defensive issues. The Leafs allowed multiple odd-man rushes and struggled to breakup Utah's possession in the offensive zone. Joseph Woll’s poise under pressure was critical during this stretch; he made several clutch saves that kept Toronto alive when their defensive coverage faltered. Woll’s calm demeanor and ability to handle high-pressure situations were standout qualities that gave his team a chance to win.
In the shootout, Auston Matthews delivered a moment of magic with a move reminiscent of Pavel Datsyuk. Marner followed with a creative and shifty deke of his own to seal the victory for Toronto. On Utah’s side, Clayton Keller also scored a highlight reel goal, but Woll stood tall when it mattered most.
Despite securing the win, this game highlighted troubling patterns for Toronto. After a dominant first period, they lacked intensity and focus for much of the game—qualities that are essential for playoff success. Their defensive lapses were glaring, their effort inconsistent, and their reliance on goaltending unsustainable especially in a playoff series.
If there’s one takeaway from this game, it’s that talent alone won’t carry this team deep into the playoffs.
The Maple Leafs boast some of the league’s most skilled players—Matthews’ shootout goal was proof of that—but without better defensive structure and sustained effort across all three periods, they’ll struggle against elite competition come April. Tuesday night may have ended with two points in hand, but it should serve as a wake-up call for a team still searching for its identity as a true Stanley Cup contender.