TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs put a constructive spin on their fourth straight loss because the Olympics.
The Maple Leafs gained a degree in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, however they’ll enter their remaining 21 regular-season video games seven factors out of a playoff place.
However the Boston Bruins, the staff that holds down the ultimate playoff spot within the Japanese Convention, have performed two fewer video games than the Maple Leafs.
“We’re simply attempting to remain constructive,” Toronto ahead Dakota Joshua stated. “It’s a tricky time for our group.”
Final season, the Montreal Canadiens snatched the eighth and remaining playoff spot within the East with 91 factors. Which means the Maple Leafs want a minimal of 27 factors of their remaining 21 video games to have hope of securing a post-season berth.
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Joshua revealed that completely different Toronto gamers have stepped up with phrases of knowledge within the hopes of shaking the Maple Leafs out of a funk that has seen them lose 10 of their final 13 outings.
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“It’s about sticking collectively,” Joshua stated. “It’s about discovering a manner.”
Joshua scored the Maple Leafs’ first aim earlier than 18,255 at Scotiabank Enviornment in his third sport again after lacking two months with a lacerated kidney. The 29-year-old left-winger from Dearborn, Mich., admitted that it has been troublesome to get his wind again.
“I’m feeling higher each sport,” he stated.
The aim was Joshua’s first since he scored the game-winner at house in opposition to the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 16.
Toronto head coach Craig Berube shuffled his strains in an try to get his staff a much-needed win. Nicolas Roy, between Joshua and Matias Maccelli, was an efficient trio, offering the house staff with some physicality.
“Since (Joshua has) come again, he’s been fairly good,” Berube stated. “I believed he did numerous good issues once more tonight. Aside from the aim, although it was an incredible shot, good play. For me, he’s being that heavy, bodily participant that we want a great job for us.”
Berube additionally put his two finest offensive gamers, captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander, collectively on a line with Bobby McMann. Whereas Nylander scored the tying aim with 2:30 remaining in regulation on the facility play, Matthews prolonged his season-high goalless streak to eight video games.
“I believed they had been good,” Berube stated. “Auston had eight pictures. Willie had (4). They created. They simply didn’t end.”
The Maple Leafs’ busy post-Olympic schedule continues on Wednesday and Thursday for his or her fifth and sixth outings in 9 days in opposition to the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, respectively.
“That’s type of like our blueprint,” Berube stated in his evaluation of the shootout loss to the Flyers. “We did numerous good issues tonight. We’ve acquired to exit to Jersey and do the identical factor.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 3, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press