The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their post-Olympic slump with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Arena on Monday night, which pushed their losing streak to four games. Dakota Joshua and William Nylander scored for the Maple Leafs, while Anthony Stolarz made 23 saves.
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Christian Dvorak and Noah Cates scored for the Flyers, Trevor Zegras netted the shootout winner, and Dan Vladar made 29 saves. The Maple Leafs have now lost 10 of their last 13 games and sit seven points back of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Dakota Joshua and Linemates Taking Strides
It’s been a tough few seasons for Joshua. The 29-year-old has missed 66 games in the last three seasons, including 22 this season. Monday night was just his third game since Dec. 28, due to a lacerated kidney, but it was by far his best. Joshua had one goal, one shot, and three hits in 11:21 against the Flyers and seems to be getting his legs back. He now has seven goals and 11 points in 39 games.
“That was nice,” Joshua said, referring to his first goal since Dec. 16. “It’s been a while, but it makes the hard days of recovery and coming back worth it when you can get one. It takes a little bit of time, but I feel like I’m getting better every game, so it’s a positive.”
His three hits were maybe more impactful than the goal. Joshua hasn’t played in two months, so to see him reintroduce some physicality to his game was a really good sign.
“Since (Joshua has) come back, he’s been pretty good,” head coach Craig Berube said. “I thought he did a lot of good things again tonight. Other than the goal, even though it was a great shot, good play. For me, he’s being that heavy physical player that we need a good job for us.”
Joshua was lined up with Nicolas Roy and Matias Maccelli, and they were one of the better lines on the ice, consistently bringing that physicality that Berube alluded to. We all know it might be too little too late; however, it’s good to see Joshua and his line providing good, consistent play shift after shift.
“To get back in the swing of things takes a bit of time,” Joshua said. “But I feel I’m getting better every time, getting the cardio back into it.”
Matthews and Nylander Reunited
A big talking point ahead of Monday’s game was reuniting Auston Matthews and Nylander on the same line, but they ultimately didn’t have enough of an impact. Nylander scored a power-play goal late to secure a point for the Maple Leafs, while Matthews went scoreless in his eighth straight game.
“I thought they were good,” Berube said. “Auston had eight shots. Willie had four. They created. They just didn’t finish.”
Matthews is an underrated defender, but last night, his line didn’t have it, and being “good” isn’t what this team needs right now. No disrespect to the Flyers, but Matthews and Nylander were the two best players on the ice last night, and the Maple Leafs need them to take over games. Sure, Nylander scored on the power play to tie the game, but throughout the night, they simply did not do that.
What Should Maple Leafs Fans Cheer For
At the end of the day, win or lose, most people want to see a good game. I’m not really sure what we saw last night, especially after reading and listening to some of the comments post-game.
“Losing stings, but if you look at our complete game, we did a lot more tonight,” Brandon Carlo said. “We were moving pucks up a lot faster and creating a lot of zone time. Definitely a stepping stone.”
I guess? Sure, the second period was better, but there were a lot of sloppy passes and a rock fight between two teams who probably won’t make the playoffs, or will get bounced in the first round if they do.
“We did a lot of good things tonight,” Berube said. “We’ve got to go out to Jersey and do the same thing.”
Did they? I’m not sure what the bar is here. To hear the words “stepping stones” in March, and Berube toe the line between honesty and encouraging, all seems very unfamiliar at this time of the season.
What should fans be rooting for? Small improvements to get the team back to where they were expecting them to be heading into October? Or should they hope for better chances in the draft even though they may have to give their first-round pick to the Boston Bruins anyway? Until they earn two points in the standings, it will be painful to watch.
Up Next: Maple Leafs Tough Schedule Ahead
If you’re holding onto hope that the team will figure it out and make a successful push towards the postseason, I have good news. The Maple Leafs play the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, and both teams are having brutal seasons of their own. If there is any hope left, they will have to win both games. Regulation or not, it doesn’t matter; just get two points. Because, after that, the schedule gets difficult for Toronto.
The Maple Leafs host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday in the first of seven games against playoff-bound opponents, including the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, and Carolina Hurricanes. Of the 14 games remaining this month, only five are against non-playoff teams, and that’s concerning.
It isn’t just about the Maple Leafs. In the Eastern Conference, we know how good the Lightning and Canadiens are, as are the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres (both teams the Maple Leafs play in the next couple of weeks). But the Wild are one of the best teams in the NHL, and the Anaheim Ducks, who Toronto plays twice before the month ends, are no joke either.
All of that is to say, if the Maple Leafs are going to make anything of this season, they need to start with two wins against the Devils and Rangers. Even then, the writing might be on the wall, in capital letters.
