Checking in on the Maple Leafs

Despite the 4-3 OT road loss to the New York Islanders Saturday night, there was reason for celebration.

With two goals in the game, Maple Leafs’ captain Auston Matthews now holds the franchise record with 421 goals. The first to tie previous record-holder and Leaf legend Mats Sundin, and the second to take sole possession of the lead.

In an earlier post, I argued for th Leafs to lean into some losses. The new year brings an air of positivity, despite the fact that today’s Monday.

Of course, the Leafs’ next gae is tomorrow… at home against a Florida Panthers team that has also had to deal with some adversity this year. Florida is currently two points ahead of Toronto through exactly half the season played for both squads.

I don’t need to re-iterate the importance of divisional games. But especially the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and the team responsible for ending the Leafs’ playoff runs in two of the last three seasons. Especially considering the 2025 seven-game series, this game is as must-win as possible.

The Leafs won the previous meeting in Florida but this isn’t the time to dwell on the past.

Of course, Matthews has fve goas through the first two games of 2026. I now say the team should ride that momentum as long as they can.

It’s true what they say. 82 games is a lot. It’s a long season. As long as the Eastern Conference is as tight as it currently is, none of the 16 teams are truly out of it.

So far, the biggest surprise to anyone in the NHL’s Eastern Conference should be the Buffalo Sabres.

Before losing their last game 5-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Sabres had rattled off nine wins in a row.

“Unexpected” doesn’t quite cover it. I honestly can’t remember the last time the Sabres made the playoffs. The 2010-11 season saw them lose in the first round in seven games to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tangent over. Getting back to the Leafs, getting some wins here would be great, of course. But the team will have to be without Brandon Carlo, Dakota Joshua, Jack McCabe, Wiliam Nylander, Anthony Stolarz, and Chris Tanev.

All six have varying expected return dates. Stolarz is at least on the ice again and his return should be sooner rather than later. Nylander appears to be “day-to-day”, whatever that means. I’ve never been a fan of that terrm but I get that teams don’t always have to be 100% clear on everything.

Hopefully the Leafs can get healthy in time for the stetch run.