Are the Maple Leafs Really That Fragile?

The Toronto Maple Leafs started the night at the Bell Centre playing like they owned the ice. Shots were 9-3 in their favor early, possession looked good, and the first-period energy suggested the Maple Leafs were about to set the pace. But hockey isn’t played on paper.

A single turnover from Jake McCabe inside the Montreal blue line turned everything upside down. The Canadiens raced down the ice while Toronto’s line change left Steven Lorentz as the last man back. He hesitated, expecting a teammate who wasn’t there, and suddenly Lane Hutson had a wide-open lane to the net. One mistake, one shift, and the first goal was in the books. On the night, the Maple Leafs looked too slow to keep up with the younger, faster Habs.

After an Initial Strong Start, the Game Spiraled for the Maple Leafs

From there, the night spiraled. Extended shifts in the Toronto zone—those long stretches that sap legs and focus—allowed Montreal to capitalize twice more. Noah Dobson and Josh Anderson found the seams, often because Toronto’s own timing and responsibilities faltered. On top of that, when McCabe left the ice after taking a puck to the face, the team lost yet another top-six defenseman. Any chance of mounting a serious comeback evaporated quickly. In a span of 21 minutes, Montreal outshot Toronto 20-3 and scored four goals. Six of those minutes were shorthanded, yes, but the pressure Montreal applied made the penalties almost inevitable.

Even so, the Maple Leafs found flickers of resistance. Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored late in the second, and William Nylander added a power-play marker early in the third. These moments didn’t change the outcome, but they reminded fans that talent and skill are still in the room. The real issue is that the team needs structure and focus to show up consistently.

Dakota Mermis Showed Grit for the Maple Leafs

Then there was Dakota Mermis, trading blows with the much bigger Florian Xhekaj. Mermis is far from a star on the scoresheet, but in a night dominated by frustration, his grit stood out. Over 20 professional fights in the minors had prepared him for this moment, and he held his own. That said, it was only a small spark of heart in a difficult night.

Can the Maple Leafs Reset?

Now comes the reset. Three days off, a chance to regroup, and a five-game road trip looming. Toronto needs health, rhythm, and confidence to string together a streak that reminds them—and the league—that they are more than fragile pieces on a scoreboard. Without it, the season could slip away while flashes of talent go unfulfilled. With it, even a team that struggles on nights like this can still matter when the playoffs arrive.