The Leafs again had a poor start, and while they did manage to get level in the game, they weren't able to avoid a seventh straight defeat. A fair bit of it was down to special teams, with Philadelphia producing a pair of powerplay goals and the Leafs unable to cash in with the man advantage.
Toronto generated only three chances in the first period, and gave up ten overall, six at even strength. This included a Flyer goal, coming right at the start of a 5-on-3. Toronto responded well in the second, getting level almost immediately, and getting the better of the first half of the period, before Philadelphia pulled back ahead with another powerplay goal.
The third was an even period, but Giroux got a critical goal to re-establish the two-goal lead, and while Bolland was able to pull one back for the Leafs, that was as close as they'd come, as they didn't manage a single chance in the last 13 minutes, with a goal from Wayne Simmonds sealing Philly's win.
A more even game than the last couple, with the Leafs losing out 10-14 at ES, though 14-21 overall, thanks to the Flyers' powerplay chances. The ES close chances also went to the Flyers, 9-6.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
| 1 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
6 |
| 2 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| 3 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
| Total |
14 |
21 |
10 |
14 |
Details below.
The Leafs were badly outplayed in the first thirty minutes, and while they managed some decent play in the back half of the game, they were unable to overcome another poor start. The level of St. Louis' domination in that opening segment of the game was stunning, and the Blues should be disappointed that the result was in question during the third period.
A powerplay that saw Toronto go ahead was the only real positive in the first period, as St. Louis dominated play, seeming to keep the puck in the Leafs zone nearly constantly. The end result, with the Blues winning the ES chances 7-1, was probably flattering to the Leafs, and two late goals saw St. Louis pull ahead in the game as well. The trend continued in the second, the Leafs getting outchanced 5-1 at ES in the first 8 minutes, and falling further behin.
From then on, the Leafs recovered well, pulling even with the Blues in chances over the rest of the second, despite a fourth goal from former Leaf Alex Steen. The third saw Toronto win the overall chances in the period, and only narrowly lose on even strength, and some sloppy defensive play allowed the Leafs to get within one. However, they didn't generate a single chance once the lead was cut to one, and the Blues managed to hold on.
That terrible start saw the Blues dominate the ES chances, 21-10. The ES close chances are even uglier, with the Leafs outchanced 11-2 during that time.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
St. Louis |
Toronto |
St. Louis |
| 1 |
3 |
9 |
1 |
7 |
| 2 |
4 |
10 |
4 |
8 |
| 3 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
| Total |
14 |
25 |
10 |
21 |
Details below.
The longest losing streak in the Leafs' season has come at a terrible time, with the playoffs now a serious question. It was a similar story, with the Leafs fighting back after falling into an early hole, and some questionable goaltending giving them big trouble.
A miserable first period saw the Leafs generate very little, outchanced 5-0 at even strength, and outscored 1-0. Only a powerplay in the closing minutes gave any hope to Toronto in the period. A bad start to the second saw the end of James Reimer's night, as two goals in quick succession saw the Leafs fall behind 3-0, with Drew MacIntyre coming in.
After the Devils' third goal, Toronto started to show some fightback, getting one back quickly on the powerplay, and outchancing the home team 4-1 at ES for the remainder of the second.
The chase in the third was far from ideal, as the Leafs did manage to generate opportunities, but also gave up quite a few, outchanced 7-4 by the Devils at ES on the period. They were able to put some pressure on in the last five minutes, with 5 chances over that time, including three with the goalie out, and a second goal from Kessel that made the last minute a tense one. However, the gap was too large to overcome, and they fell short again.
New Jersey dominated the ES chances, 16-8, but empty net and powerplay chances saw the Leafs come closer overall, 19-17. ES close chances were not kind to the Leafs, as they were beaten 7-0. In particular, the struggling James Reimer was hung out to dry, with the Leafs not generating a single chance at ES in his 22 minutes.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
New Jersey |
Toronto |
New Jersey |
| 1 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
5 |
| 2 |
8 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
| 3 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
| Total |
17 |
19 |
8 |
16 |
Details below.
The Leafs' fourth loss in five games, coming against a team they were closely chasing only a week or so ago, leaves their playoff hopes in sudden jeopardy, and once again it's the goaltending that will draw a lot of the questions.
James Reimer's struggles saw the Leafs fall behind early, with Montreal getting two goals in just over a minute, neither great efforts from the Leafs goalie. Toronto actually won the chances during the period, 9-7, and fought back to draw level with a pair of goals of their own, but a goal in the last minute, deflecting in off a Leaf stick, left them down by one.
The pace of the game settled down after that, with the Leafs taking command of the chances. They dominated the second period, allowing Montreal only one late chance, but couldn't manufacture a goal, though they hit two posts.
The third saw the Leafs get back level after an early powerplay, but a couple of late penalties made them pay, with Plekanec getting the winner just as one expired and a second killing any building momentum in the closing minutes. They weren't able to generate any chances in the last 4 minutes, and only two in the last 13, as they slumped to another defeat.
The Leafs won the chance battle, 19-10 at ES and 23-13 overall. They really dominated the close chances, 15-9, mostly thanks to that strong, if fruitless, second period.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Montreal |
Toronto |
Montreal |
| 1 |
9 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
| 2 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
| 3 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
| Total |
23 |
13 |
19 |
10 |
Details below.
Toronto's sudden run of defeats has come at a poor time, with a playoff spot that seemed so secure days ago now looking more and more precarious. A home loss to Tampa was particularly worrisome, as the goaltending, which has been the Leafs' biggest strength all season, now seems a real point of vulnerability, with Bernier's injury and Reimer's struggles.
The first period was level in chances, with the Lightning edging the period, and leaving ahead 3-2, with the Leafs' early lead undone by a pair from Steven Stamkos. The Leafs were then totally overwhelmed at the start of the second, giving up seven of the next eight ES chances after the 5-minute penalty from the end of the first expired.
Down 4-2, there was some hope for the Leafs, as they finished the second strongly, at got off to a great start in the third, including cutting the lead to one through Gardiner. However, they generated just 3 ES chances the rest of the game, and gave up a back-breaker of a goal with 7 minutes to go. They did manage four chances with the goalie out, but they weren't able to cut the lead down from two.
That chase in the third period allowed the Leafs to pull just barely ahead in the ES chances, though the close chances were handily won by Tampa, 11-6.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Tampa Bay |
Toronto |
Tampa Bay |
| 1 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
| 2 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
| 3 |
12 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
| Total |
23 |
18 |
16 |
15 |
Details below.
After a strong start to the Leafs' road adventure, with two wins in California, they finished with a couple of losses closer to home, with this one in Detroit seeing them fall behind after a bad opening period, and not be able to get back into it.
Toronto ended up having the same chance gap against Detroit as they did in Washington after one, down 5-2 at even strength. They were only down by one goal, though, in contrast to their start the other day. In the second, the Leafs were able to generate a good number of chances, despite allowing Detroit some powerplay opportunites, but couldn't take advantage, and entered the third still behind.
A miserable start to the third saw the Leafs give up the first five chances, including a second goal to Gustav Nyquist. They did wake up after that, Gardiner pulling one back, but a late goal from Alfredsson, as the Leafs pushed forward trying to generate an equalizer, was a killer.
Detroit won the first and third period, which was enough to see them claim the ES and overall chance victories. The Wings also won the 5-on-5 close chances, though that was much more even, 11-9 for Detroit.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Detroit |
Toronto |
Detroit |
| 1 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
| 2 |
8 |
10 |
7 |
6 |
| 3 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
| Total |
19 |
23 |
13 |
18 |
Details below.
The Leafs long road trip continued in Washington, where they did very well to control Alex Ovechkin, but after a poor start couldn't recover.
The Leafs were on the back foot from the beginning of the first, as they got into some serious penalty trouble, and fell behind by three in the first ten minutes. They were outchanced 8-2 overall, and 5-2 at ES. They did manage to get a critical goal from Troy Bodie in the closing minutes, to keep their chances alive.
The Leafs were much improved in the second period, but despite a goal from Dion Phaneuf, the team had a difficult time turning their zone time into scoring chances, until a powerplay shortly after the mdiway point. From then, Toronto outchanced Washington 6-1 overall in the last 10 minutes of the period, but couldn't find an equalizer.
Toronto weren't able to chase down the lead in the third, and really didn't mount much pressure in the last five minutes. They weren't able to outchance the Capitals in the closing frame, and a late penalty broke up a potential closing flurry.
Washington were able to outchance the Leafs at ES, not just in the poor Leafs opening period, but also the third, where, as mentioned, their chase was quite poor. The Leafs were able to outchance Washington 5-on-5 close, mostly due to their strong second period.
A summary of the scoring chances:
| Status |
Overall |
ES |
| Team |
Toronto |
Washington |
Toronto |
Washington |
| 1 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
5 |
| 2 |
7 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
| 3 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
6 |
| Total |
13 |
18 |
10 |
12 |
Details below.
