The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. The Leafs are fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 13-11-4 record.
The Maple Leafs struggled offensively with just 23 shots on goal to Montreal’s 34, going 0-for-3 on the power play, and failing to capitalize in the shootout despite Dennis Hildeby’s stellar .971 save percentage.
The team tied it late in the third period on a shorthanded goal by Scott Laughton, but couldn’t generate enough pressure, leading to a frustrating loss. Here’s a look at the least impressive Toronto Maple Leafs players in defeat to the Montreal Canadiens.
3 least impressive Toronto Maple Leafs in the loss to the Montreal Canadiens
#3 John Tavares
Tavares had zero points, zero shots on goal, and a team-high four penalty minutes, putting his team shorthanded during a low-scoring affair. The veteran forward was stopped cold in the shootout on his attempt, sealing the loss.
Tavares’ lack of offensive push and discipline issues stood out in a game where the Toronto Maple Leafs needed sniping from their stars.
#2 William Nylander
Nylander mustered four shots on goal across 20:48 of ice time and was denied in the shootout, going 0-for-1 in a decisive round. With the Leafs firing blanks, his minimal volume from the wing—especially after drawing a power play—highlighted a passive night.
Nylander was cool on battling loose pucks, creating chances, and dragging down the Toronto Maple Leafs’ attack in a game decided by fine margins.
#1 Troy Stecher
Stecher logged 23:24 minutes of ice time but recorded zero shots and zero points and took a costly tripping penalty in the second period that handed Montreal its lone power-play goal.
His limited impact in blocks or takeaways underscored defensive lapses, as Toronto allowed 34 shots despite fewer giveaways overall. Stecher’s errors in keeping the puck possession amplified the back-end’s struggles.
The Maple Leafs host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
