The Toronto Maple Leafs had lost three of four coming in, and are in a dog fight for the Atlantic Division Title and were up against their up-and-coming provincial rival in a late-season four-point game.
So of course the Toronto Maple Leafs, as a team in the 9th season with the best player in the history of their franchise, in the most important game of the season, came out swining.
Just kidding, they started slow and then seemed to contract turtleitis to further slow their momentum. It was a terrible game in which the Leafs got exactly the result they deserved.
It was only not their fifth straight loss because in a recent game where they blew a three-goal lead they somehow happened to still win in a shootout. (stats naturalstattrick.com)
Toronto Maple Leafs humiliate themselves like it was Trade Deadline Day
It's hard to imagine a higher-stakes game in the regular season than last night, and the Leafs showed absolutely no urgancy.
On the bright side, Craig Berube tried out some new lines and I think they were at least better than what we've been seing. The Leafs lost and they didn't play particularly well, however I think if given some time to mesh (and Berube was blending lines by the second period) they would work out.
The different combos will need some time to work, but what I really like to see is Marner, Nylander and Matthews on different lines. It makes the Leafs harder to play againt and it takes a team that used to have the worst bottom-six in hockey and completely changes its dynamic. (Of course trading Dewar, demoting Reaves and scratching Kampf also helps).
The biggest problem the Leafs have is that the three competitive teams in their division - Ottawa, Florida and Tampa - had three of the best deadlines any team in the NHL Had. The Leafs traded for a 4th line winger they say is a third line centre, and a stay-at-home defenseman while their rivals all added stars to their lineup.
The Leafs have lost four of five and only the Blackhawks have a worse overall statistical profile since the NHL resumed after the 4 Nations Break. Their best players are not playing well, their GM failed to come through at the deadline and they have two injury-prone goalies who have never played as many games before ever in their careers as they have played this season.
Then again, when you look at all the other season where they should have won but didn't, maybe this is the year they shouldn't win but do?