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The Ottawa Senators continued their strong form with a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, marking their sixth straight. This win pushed their remarkable streak to 7-0-1 in their last eight games. At the same time, the Maple Leafs, who have been struggling, fell to a disappointing 1-4-1 record in their past six games.
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Toronto head coach Craig Berube commented on his team’s inability to win battles in critical areas, especially within the blue line, which led to Ottawa capitalizing on those chances. As Berube said, “I thought their three goals were all about losing battles inside the blue line,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “We didn’t win enough battles there, and that’s an area of the game; it’s urgency for me and details in the first two periods that weren’t there, but when we decide to have urgency and do things the right way.”
Item One: William Nylander Extends Point Streak to Eight Games
William Nylander continued his hot streak on Saturday, scoring a determined goal in the Maple Leafs’ 4-2 loss to the Senators. His second-period backhand goal slipped between Linus Ullmark’s pads, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead. Nylander’s point streak now stands at eight games, with four goals and six assists during that stretch. He’s put up 26 shots over the span. Despite Nylander’s hard offensive work, the Maple Leafs fell short. As noted, they dropped their fifth game in six.
Item Two: Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Winless in March
Anthony Stolarz continued his tough stretch in March. He allowed three goals on 24 shots in Toronto’s loss. Despite making 21 saves, he faced much pressure, especially during the Senators’ power plays. Stolarz remains winless this month, posting a 0-3-1 record in four starts (five appearances), with 15 goals allowed. Though his recent struggles are starting to reshape his overall numbers, Stolarz still holds a solid 2.39 goals-against average and .918 save percentage across 26 appearances this season.
Item Three: Auston Matthews Scores Goal 24
Auston Matthews scored his 24th goal of the season when he jumped on a turnover after Ullmark misplayed the puck, putting Toronto up 2-1 in the second period. It turned into an easy shot into an open net. Even with the goal, Matthews has only scored three goals in his last 16 games. He boasts 24 goals and 33 assists in 51 games this season. Despite his recent struggles, Matthews remains capable of exploding. The question is, will he?
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Item Four: Scott Laughton Leaves Game After Injury
After taking a stick near his eye, Scott Laughton was forced to leave Saturday’s game midway through the third period. Despite the injury, Laughton left the ice with both eyes open. Fortunately for the Maple Leafs newcomer, coach Berube confirmed there would be a few stitches, but Laughton would be fine. Laughton had already contributed with a fighting major and three hits before exiting the game.
Item Five: Elliotte Friedman Hints at Sam Bennett’s Link to Maple Leafs
There seem to be behind-the-scenes discussions going on. One name that’s reportedly on the Maple Leafs’ radar is Sam Bennett. Between periods of last night’s game, Elliotte Friedman hinted that the Maple Leafs might still be interested in Bennett. He reported that ongoing talks between the Florida Panthers and their rugged forward have resumed. As Maple Leafs fans know, Bennett was born about a 45-minute drive from Scotiabank Arena, where the Maple Leafs play.
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While there’s no guarantee Bennett won’t re-sign with the Panthers when his contract expires this offseason, he seems to be on the Maple Leafs’ radar. But why would Bennett leave Florida? After he moved from Calgary to Florida in 2021, his game exploded for the Panthers. Interestingly, Friedman continues to monitor this situation at this time of the year. Was it a short news night, or is there something no one else knows about?
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs’ game has undoubtedly changed since the start of the season, but not necessarily for the better. This is the type of game they likely would have won earlier in the season, but they can’t seem to hold onto leads like they once did. In many ways, the Senators took it to Toronto—at least for the first two periods. Even a reliable player like Mitch Marner, who is typically solid with the puck, made uncharacteristic turnovers.
It’s unclear if a specific defensive strategy from opposing teams is causing these hiccups, but last night’s Maple Leafs performance left something to be desired. Perhaps it’s precisely what was said after the game. A team solidly in the postseason meets a team hungry to make the postseason, and the urgent play tilted toward Ottawa.
While the Maple Leafs kept the game close, they never seemed entirely in control. Then, they couldn’t beat goalie Ullmark in the third period. Too little, too late.
