The Toronto Maple Leafs had a tough outing in their 7-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche despite solid individual games from some of their star players. Mitch Marner and John Tavares each had two goals, and Auston Matthews added three assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a five-goal rally by Colorado. All night, it was a back-and-forth game, and only a couple of empty-netters made the score look lopsided.
Related: 3 Takeaways From the Maple Leafs’ 7-4 Loss Against the Avalanche
It’s funny how watching or listening to the same game can lead to different takes. As I often do to prepare for writing this post, I both watched the game and listened to it on the radio. While the television announcers praised the matchup between two highly skilled teams, calling it a good game, the radio announcers had a different take. They saw it as a poor game by the Maple Leafs, even though it was essentially a one-goal game with a couple of empty-netters tacked on in the dying moments.
The contrasting opinions highlight how subjective the interpretation of a game can be—and how, strangely, that’s part of hockey’s charm (even in a physical game).
Item 1: Anthony Stolarz Finally Has an Average Night
Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz had a challenging game, registering 27 saves in the 7-4 loss. The game was high-scoring; both teams made mistakes, and the other team capitalized on them. The result? Lots of tough shots on Stolarz and Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood. Despite the Maple Leafs’ offensive push, Stolarz could not stop five goals. The bottom line is that these mistakes ultimately cost the Maple Leafs the game.
Stolarz has now dropped his last two starts, one in overtime. Last night, he was average. Still, his overall play this season remains strong. Stolarz now has a 13-6-3 record, a 2.33 goals-against average, and a .921 save percentage in 23 starts. While Saturday’s game was a setback, fans should expect him to bounce back and provide solid goaltending for his team.
Item 2: Mitch Marner Hits 20 Goals for Fifth Straight Season
Mitch Marner continued his stellar season with two goals in Toronto’s 7-4 loss to Colorado on Saturday, marking his fifth straight 20-goal season. Marner’s first goal came early in the first period, tying the game 1-1 with a perfectly-placed wrist shot. He followed it up later in the period with a one-timer, putting the Maple Leafs ahead.
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Marner is currently on a six-game point streak, with eight points in those games. Surprisingly, for Marner, that includes five goals. With 21 goals and 58 assists this season, he is on track for a career-high 101 points. Last season, he put up 99. His consistency has been a key part of the Maple Leafs’ offense. After the game, teammate John Tavares spoke highly of Marner’s dedication, saying, “Mitch is just focused on being a Leaf and doing everything he can to help this team.”
Item 3: John Tavares Extends Streak with 2 Goals
Tavares played a key role in Toronto’s offense on Saturday, scoring twice in the loss to Colorado. His first goal tied the game 2-2 in the first period as he fired a quick shot short-side over Blackwood’s shoulder. His second goal came on the power play in the second period, putting the team up 4-2. However, the Maple Leafs’ errors in the third allowed Colorado to rally for the win.
Tavares has been in good form recently, currently riding a four-game, six-point streak, which includes four goals. Despite the redundant concerns about his skating, the veteran forward keeps producing. This season, he has 26 goals and 29 assists (for 55 points in 56 games). His recent play highlights his offensive effectiveness.
Item 4: Auston Matthews Extends Point Streak to 12 Games
Auston Matthews continued his strong playmaking on Saturday, notching three assists in Toronto’s 7-4 loss to Colorado. His game pushed his point streak to 12. In that span, he’s scored three goals and added 15 assists. Matthews has 56 points, including 23 goals, in 48 games this season. While his point production has morphed, he’s still pretty productive and remains one of the NHL’s top offensive forces.
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Matthews’ shooting percentage is currently at 11.9%, below his career average of 15.9%. Yet, he continues to help his teammates light the lamp by setting up their goals. He’s shown the ability to contribute in different ways, even when he’s not scoring himself. If anything, his all-around game and the threat he poses on the ice to the opposition are expanding.
The Bottom Line: Nathan MacKinnon: One of the NHL’s Elites
Because he doesn’t play for a Canadian team, he might not receive the same widespread recognition as Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. That said, Nathan MacKinnon is one of the NHL’s most skilled and impactful players. Playing for the Avalanche, MacKinnon often flies under the radar, particularly for Maple Leafs fans who regularly see more teams in the Atlantic Division. But MacKinnon is a powerhouse.
Last night, MacKinnon became the second player in Avalanche (and Quebec Nordiques) franchise history to record three straight 100-point seasons. He joins the legendary Peter Stastny in that feat, who hit the century mark six times from 1980-86. MacKinnon is one of the game’s top players. He dominates year after year without necessarily basking in the limelight. As an aside, seeing how Mikko Rantanen does now that he’s moved on from the Avalanche could be interesting.
