Blue Jackets 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT): Game of Effort, But

Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs did almost everything right except finish with a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Toronto played the kind of steady, composed hockey that Craig Berube has been begging for, and for long stretches. They absolutely controlled the pace. But then Adam Fantilli decided to have himself a night. When a young player like him gets humming, sometimes all you can do is nod at the talent and turn the page.

From the Maple Leafs’ side of things, the game had that strange mix of promise and frustration. You could feel the group settling back into some shape despite the long list of missing bodies. For the third game in a row, Joseph Woll looked sharp and calm. Dakota Mermis scored his first goal with the Maple Leafs.

Perhaps the most hope came from the unique chemistry between John Tavares and Easton Cowan. Tavares turned back the clock with a goal and an assist, but he was sparked beautifully by a clever give-and-go with Cowan. There were moments where Toronto seemed to grab the game by the collar. That said, there were also moments when they couldn’t quite close their hands.

And, overtime is a coin toss. This one came up tails when the Maple Leafs called heads. Max Domi, who, despite criticism, is playing a solid stretch of hockey, got caught flat-footed for a split second, Fantilli slipped around him, and suddenly the night was over.

Key Points for the Maple Leafs

Key Point 1. The Maple Leafs’ System Is Starting to Look Like Something Again. Coach Craig Berube keeps talking about “playing the right way,” and you can see small pieces falling back into place. The Maple Leafs defended with some purpose, managed the puck better, and didn’t give the Blue Jackets many freebies. It wasn’t perfect, but it was structured.

Key Point 2. John Tavares Is About as Hot as He’s Ever Been. Tavares has points in four straight games, and this was one of his better games of the season. He handled tough minutes, stepped up without Auston Matthews, and looked every bit the steadying presence they needed.

Key Point 3. Joseph Woll Has His Feet Back Under Him. This was Woll’s third straight start since returning, and he looked confident. He made the saves he should have, battled through traffic, and didn’t get rattled after those two Fantilli goals. You can tell he feels the group is trending in the right direction.

A Final Maple Leafs Thought

Losses like this one don’t sting as much as the earlier ones did. This didn’t look like a team drowning—it looked like a team climbing out of the hole and just slipping near the top. If they keep skating with this much intent, and if a few bodies return soon, there’s something here worth not giving up on. The effort’s the real deal. Now they need the results to catch up.