The Toronto Maple Leafs are gearing up for another challenging road trip when they face the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night. After a one-game pit stop at home that saw a tired team lose 3-2 in a shootout to the San Jose Sharks, the Maple Leafs will try to regroup against the Golden Knights.
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Before the loss to the Sharks, the Maple Leafs had a successful four-game road trip. Tired or not, they managed to string together a solid stretch of fortunate and gritty play to win seven of their last eight games. However, the shootout loss to San Jose, the worst team in the league, snapped their five-game winning streak. Can the team start another one?
Item One: Matthew Knies Seems to Enjoy Being on the Road
After the Sharks’ setback, forward Matthew Knies (who scored a power-play goal) emphasized the team’s need to bounce back and play 60 minutes. He admitted that the team didn’t execute well in the third period and overtime. Knies expressed frustration with the loss but remained optimistic about the upcoming trip.
Regarding the upcoming stretch, Knies added, “Just clean the suitcase and put it right back in. I guess it’s been 10 hours at home.” Despite the quick turnaround, being on the road in different cities like Las Vegas, Denver, and Salt Lake City is probably fun. Now, to play some winning hockey.
Item Two: Maple Leafs Goaltending Seems Ready for a Deep Run
The Maple Leafs’ goaltending was iffy coming into the season. However, their tandem has become an effective asset in pursuing a Stanley Cup this season. With 52 goalies having played 20 or more games in the 2024-25 campaign, Joseph Woll ranks 12th in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes, while Anthony Stolarz sits second, just behind Logan Thompson of the Washington Captials. Stolarz, who finished second in the same stat last season, and Woll, who was exceptional in the playoffs before an injury sidelined him, form a duo that gives the Maple Leafs an elite presence between the pipes.
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This is an improvement over last season when Toronto heavily relied on one goaltender. With two reliable goalies, the team can go up against any team in a seven-game series. Based on what we’ve seen this season, the Maple Leafs have the stability and depth they need to make a deep playoff run.
With their goaltending locked down, the organization is ready to make a serious Stanley Cup push. General manager Brad Treliving now has the luxury of knowing his goaltenders can stand up to the challenge, so the focus shifts to supplementing the roster. If Treliving can make a few key moves, like adding a scoring forward or shoring up the defence, the Maple Leafs could finally overcome their playoff heartbreaks.
Now, the question is, who might come and who might be moved to another team? With the goaltending in place, it’s about filling in the gaps.
Item Three: Is Garret Sparks Still in the Nets Somewhere?
Speaking of Maple Leafs’ goalies reminded me about one ex-Toronto goalie who burst on the scene in the system but never made it at the NHL level. That’s Garret Sparks. His journey through professional hockey was a rollercoaster, marked by bits of brilliance but ultimately defined by unfulfilled promise at the NHL level. After a breakout season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Toronto Marlies, where Sparks led the league with a 1.79 goals-against average (GAA) and a .936 save percentage and helped his team win the 2018 Calder Cup, it seemed like the young goalie was on the verge of an NHL breakthrough.
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However, despite flashes of potential, Sparks never transitioned to the big league, struggling to hold his own when given the chance with the Maple Leafs, Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings. Sparks’ time in the AHL remained productive, as he built an impressive career with a 99-60-11 record, a 2.35 GAA, and a .921 save percentage across 180 games.
It seems that Sparks might be stepping away from his NHL dreams altogether. After a brief stint with the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, where he played only two games, the team reassigned him to their ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers. Now 31 years old, with his time in the top leagues behind him, I can find nothing to suggest he’s playing professionally this season.
Sparks may be closing the chapter on his NHL aspirations. While his AHL success can never be questioned, the dream of being a full-time NHL goaltender has slipped out of reach. Whatever happened to Sparks? The once-promising goalie has quietly moved on from his dreams of playing at the highest level. He played for 12 teams during his career: the Guelph Storm, Toronto Marlies, Orlando Solar Bears, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Wolves, Vegas Golden Knights, Stockton Heat, Ontario Reign, Los Angeles Kings, Springfield Thunderbirds, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Wheeling Nailers.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
As the Maple Leafs face off against the Golden Knights, they’ll need to shake off the disappointment of their loss to San Jose and focus on maintaining their strong road form. With its dominant home record and a recent shutout victory, Vegas will pose a tough challenge.
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If the Maple Leafs are to win, they must stay disciplined, avoid lapses, and capitalize on their chances. Making the best of this road trip will be crucial if the team wants to stay in the lead in the Atlantic Division.
