{"id":408192,"date":"2026-01-15T01:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T01:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/408192\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T01:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T01:10:12","slug":"this-is-a-flush-game-leafs-reset-and-rest-up-with-marner-reunion-on-deck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/408192\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This is a flush game\u2019; Leafs reset and rest up with Marner reunion on deck"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Maple Leafs lost 6-1 to the Utah Mammoth<\/a> on Tuesday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Wednesday is a day off for the team in Las Vegas. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s 10-game point streak (8-0-2) came to a crashing halt on Tuesday night as the Utah Mammoth<\/a> handed the Leafs their most lopsided loss of the season. <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t really like our game from the start,\u201d said defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> following the 6-1 setback. \u201cThey came out and had the puck a little bit more, and it was hard to defend them. We got to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just not playing to our level,\u201d said winger Matias Maccelli<\/a>. \u201cWe got to be better and everyone knows that.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the Leafs are not planning to dwell on their first regulation loss since Dec. 21 in Dallas. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a flush game,\u201d said coach Craig Berube<\/a>. \u201cI talked to the guys. We need to rest up. We are going to have a tough game in Vegas, who are good at home. That is a good team. We need to rest up here and get our legs under us for the next game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Leafs will continue their four-game trip on Thursday in Las Vegas where they will face Mitch Marner for the first time since the summer sign-and-trade. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime I\u2019ve switched teams and you play buddies, it\u2019s always a little bit different the first night,\u201d said defenceman Jake McCabe<\/a>. \u201cYeah, looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun to play against him,\u201d said Ekman-Larsson. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘This is a flush game’: Leafs reset and rest up with Marner reunion looming Craig Berube doesn’t want the Leafs to dwell on their most lopsided loss of the season. In the wake of a 6-1 defeat to the Mammoth, Toronto’s coach is urging his players to rest and reset on Wednesday in Las Vegas as they get set to face former teammate Mitch Marner and the Golden Knights.\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The schedule makers did the Leafs no favours to start this road trip. <\/p>\n

After playing at home on Saturday, Toronto flew to Denver on Sunday before beating the league-leading Avalanche in a high-altitude, high-emotion overtime game on Monday night. Then it was off to Salt Lake City to face a Mammoth team that had Monday night off. <\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone\u2019s got games like these in the schedule,\u201d said McCabe. \u201cYou know, it\u2019s not easy for anyone. So, you\u2019re not going to hear me making excuses about the schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

All teams deal with back-to-back situations, but this one stood out because both games started at 8 pm local time. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a little weird,\u201d Maccelli acknowledged. \u201cIt\u2019s late in Toronto, but still that\u2019s another excuse. We gotta be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s commendable that the Leafs did not want to make excuses, but they sure looked like a tired group on Tuesday night. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe just didn\u2019t execute well enough,\u201d Berube said. \u201cIt was kind of like we were \u2018almost\u2019 [there]. We almost got a goal, we almost got the play off, but we just didn\u2019t execute well enough. I\u2019ll give them credit. They had a great game plan. They were on us. We didn\u2019t have much room out there. We really had to work for any opportunity we got. They were tight defensively, and they were quick offensively. They made us chase it around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe attacked every shift with a lot of speed through the neutral zone and a lot of pace, a lot of pressure on their D,\u201d Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny told reporters. \u201cWe knew they were on the back-to-back and played a big game [Monday].\u201d<\/p>\n

‘There’s no excuse’: Leafs refuse to blame schedule after lopsided late-night loss After an emotional overtime win in the high-altitude of Denver on Monday, the Leafs struggled to get up to speed on Tuesday in another game that started at 8 pm local time. “Everyone’s got games like these,” said defenceman Jake McCabe. “You’re not going to hear me making excuses.”\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The Mammoth firmly grabbed hold of the game in the second period. After John Tavares<\/a> was denied by Karel Vejmelka<\/a> on a breakaway, Dylan Guenther<\/a> scored twice in quick succession. <\/p>\n

\u201cTavares didn\u2019t put it in,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe had some opportunities early on [in the second]. We got our legs under us. The second goal went in, and the third one really dug us into a hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of made the situation worse a little bit during the second period, which I\u2019m not too happy about,\u201d Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

Guenther\u2019s first goal was a high, short-side snipe off the rush that beat the 6-foot-7 Swede. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good shot,\u201d Hildeby said. \u201cLike from that angle, I don\u2019t think it matters who it is, I mean, it should be a save. I just mistimed it a little bit and I wasn\u2019t in my position. But, yeah, credit him, obviously a good shot, but I\u2019ve got to save that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hildeby allowed six goals on 41 shots. <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess you\u2019d want the second one back, but I don\u2019t put anything on him,\u201d Berube said. \u201cThis is a team loss. We\u2019re all accountable for it. We have to be better. We weren\u2019t good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘I’ve got to save that’: Leafs goalie Hildeby admits he ‘mistimed’ Guenther shot Mammoth sniper Dylan Guenther beat Dennis Hildeby with a short-side shot in the second period on Tuesday. “From that angle, I don’t think it matters who it is, I mean, it should be a save,” the Leafs goalie said. But coach Craig Berube refused to blame Hildeby for the loss.\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Did the travel and late start impact Hildeby? <\/p>\n

\u201cNot enough for it to be an excuse,\u201d the 24-year-old said. \u201cFirst period felt alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easier to shrug off the start time after a win. <\/p>\n

\u201c10 p.m. start time, it\u2019s always fun,\u201d Joseph Woll<\/a> said with a laugh after stopping 31 of 34 shots to beat the Avalanche on Monday. \u201cActually, I felt great. So, yeah, I think we\u2019re all pros, so we know how to take care of our bodies and hopefully set us up for success. We\u2019ve been hammering the beets and the iron and stuff. I do everything I can. So, yeah, my body felt good and great to get the win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woll is winning a lot lately. He\u2019s 6-0-1 since Dec. 23. And when Woll picks up the \u2018W\u2019 teammates are blasting \u2018Wonderwall\u2019 by Oasis in the dressing room following the usual post-win song of \u2018Come On Eileen\u2019 by Dexys Midnight Runners. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s pretty cool,\u201d Woll said with a smile. \u201cYeah, I like our post-win songs right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woll is expected to get the start on Thursday in Vegas where he\u2019s never won. He lost his only previous game in Nevada last season and it wasn\u2019t pretty. Woll was actually pulled after allowing three goals on seven shots at T-Mobile Arena last March. <\/p>\n

Woll loving the post-win playlist as Leafs sing along to \u2018Wonderwall\u2019 After Joseph Woll stopped 31 of 34 shots to beat the Avalanche on Monday night, teammates serenaded the goalie with a rendition of the Oasis song Wonderwall. \u201cI like our post-win songs right now,\u201d Woll said with a big grin. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar credited Woll’s strong start as helping turn the game in Toronto’s favour.\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Maccelli was playing his first game back in Utah since being traded by the Mammoth in the summer. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always fun to play against guys you know, but obviously we didn\u2019t get the result,\u201d he said. \u201cSo it wasn\u2019t as much fun because they were buzzing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maccelli did not hit the scoresheet and finished the night minus-two. <\/p>\n

Maccelli heard from some former Utah ‘mates: “They told me to keep my head up. We\u2019ll see what happens”<\/p>\n

Who will Matias be keeping an eye on?<\/p>\n

“Probably Lawson Crouse. He\u2019s a big guy, so I have to be careful with him. But I\u2019ll give it back to him if I get a chance” \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) January 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

But Maccelli did log over 15 minutes once again while playing on a line with Tavares and William Nylander<\/a>. He is averaging 15:29 of ice time per game since re-entering the Leafs lineup on Dec. 20 following a nine-game stretch as a healthy scratch. <\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone wants to play,\u201d the 25-year-old Finn said. \u201cI was out for a few games, you know, just trying to reset and work hard in practice and then once I got back in just gave it my everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTalking to him, he wasn\u2019t making excuses,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe knew he had to be better and he was waiting for an opportunity to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maccelli has produced three goals and five assists in the 13 games since getting back in. He\u2019s also earned a look on the top power-play unit. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s playing with a lot more confidence, hanging onto pucks and making better plays with the puck and defensively he\u2019s been solid,\u201d said Berube before Tuesday\u2019s tilt. \u201cHe\u2019s working above things. He\u2019s getting above. He\u2019s being strong on the puck when he has to be in battles, but it\u2019s confidence that I see in him now that I didn\u2019t see early on.\u201d <\/p>\n

Maccelli produced nine points in his first 22 games this season while averaging 13:12 of ice time per game. <\/p>\n

\u201cObviously getting more ice time helps,\u201d Maccelli said. \u201cMy strength is with the puck and trying to make plays, so it helps when you play more and get more touches. And you get to play with JT and Willy, it makes my life a little easier too.\u201d<\/p>\n

NHL: Maple Leafs 1, Mammoth 6 Dylan Guenther scored two goals and picked up an assist, Jack McBain had three points of his own, and Karel Vejmelka made 19 saves as the Mammoth routed the Maple Leafs. Dennis Hildeby made 33 saves for Toronto, who saw their four-game winning streak snapped. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Auston Matthews<\/a> did not score on Tuesday, but Toronto\u2019s captain continues to look dangerous. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been cooking,\u201d Nylander said following Monday\u2019s game. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to be out there with him. You know [if] you give it to him, it gets in the net.\u201d<\/p>\n

The manner in which Matthews scored on Monday in Colorado stood out to teammates. It looked a lot like the signature style he displayed en route to winning the Rocket Richard Trophy three times. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat way he can weight shift and pull that puck in … it was a beautiful goal,\u201d said winger Bobby McMann<\/a>. \u201cAnd really timely. The boys were fired up for that one.\u201d<\/p>\n

4 of Matthews’ 7 hardest shots of the season have come since Christmas break. Also, his two fastest skating speeds.
8 goals in 8 games after starting the season with 14 in 31. https:\/\/t.co\/kpIFwNGeSs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mike Kelly (@MikeKellyNHL) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Matthews used Avalanche defenceman Josh Manson<\/a> as a screen while snapping a puck past Trent Miner<\/a>. The goal gave the Leafs a 3-2 third-period lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of that [old] Auston Matthews<\/a>, like, with the speed coming down, pulling it in and ripping it,\u201d said Berube. \u201cHe\u2019s getting his looks every game now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leafs fired up to see Matthews continue to cook with another vintage snipe Auston Matthews used a vintage release to score his seventh goal in six games on Monday night in Denver. \u201cThat was a beautiful goal and really timely,\u201d said Bobby McMann. \u201cThe boys are fired up for that one.\u201d Added William Nylander, \u201cHe’s been cooking.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

McMann scored a beautiful goal of his own on Monday night. <\/p>\n

The Avalanche won a faceoff in the Leafs zone with Victor Olofsson<\/a> tapping the puck back towards the point. The pass ended up going between defencemen Ilya Solovyov<\/a> and Samuel Girard<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes when a puck pops out like that, neither D is really sure who should get it,\u201d McMann said. \u201cSo sometimes I just got to poke it ahead and try and get the wheels going and see if I can out skate\u2019em there.\u201d<\/p>\n

McMann did just that and beat Miner on a breakaway to tie the game up at 2-2. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s so explosive,\u201d said Matthews. \u201cYou can just see how on his goal, I mean, once he gets a step, he\u2019s hard to pick up. He\u2019s been playing great lately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been playing like a beast,\u201d said Nylander. \u201cUsing his speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is working well for McMann?<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just skating,\u201d the 29-year-old said after Monday\u2019s game. \u201cI think that\u2019s the biggest strength of my game. Just skating onto pucks, trying to force turnovers, generate pucks back to our guys. I was doing things like that and trying to stay consistent with that and continue to be physical.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got such great speed and he uses it extremely well,\u201d said Berube. \u201cHe can play anywhere and does the job. I thought defensively he was outstanding with his stick and his speed. It broke some plays up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among all NHL forwards, only Edmonton\u2019s Connor McDavid<\/a> (39.61 km\/h) and Utah\u2019s Logan Cooley<\/a> (39.23) have hit a higher max speed than McMann (39.03) so far this season, per NHL Edge stats. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a little unfair, honestly, how fast he is,\u201d said Leafs winger Matthew Knies<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Playing like a beast\u2019: McMann sparking Leafs with \u2018explosive\u2019 speed Bobby McMann burst through the Avalanche defence to score a breakaway goal on Monday. \u201cHe’s so explosive,\u201d said Auston Matthews. \u201cOnce he gets a step, he’s hard to pick up.\u201d McMann matched a season high with six shots and logged more than 18 minutes.\n <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

After blocking a shot off his left leg on Monday, winger Nick Robertson missed Tuesday\u2019s game with a lower-body injury. He is listed as day-to-day, per Berube. <\/p>\n

Robertson sat out two games earlier this season as a healthy scratch, but Tuesday\u2019s game marked his first injury-related absence of the year. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Leafs lines to start Tuesday\u2019s game: <\/p>\n

McMann – Matthews – Domi<\/p>\n

Maccelli – Tavares – Nylander<\/p>\n

Knies – Roy – Cowan<\/p>\n

Lorentz – Laughton – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n

Rielly – Carlo<\/p>\n

McCabe – Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n

Benoit – Stecher<\/p>\n

Hildeby <\/p>\n

Woll<\/p>\n