Published Jan 21, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n There is finally some separation in the Atlantic Division, but this time the\u00a0defending regular\u00a0season leading\u00a0Maple\u00a0Leafs\u00a0are on the wrong end.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n With a 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, despite the best efforts of goalie Joseph Woll, the Leafs are nine and 10 points behind Detroit and Tampa Bay, respectively, still out of wild-card qualification for now.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Our Takeaways on a tough result at Scotiabank Arena, dropping Toronto to 0-1-1 on this five-game home stand, their ninth extra-period loss, double last season\u2019s total.<\/p>\n CREASE LIGHTNING<\/p>\n Coach Craig Berube made the right call on Woll, who made 39 saves before Dylan Larkin finished a 2-on-1 late in the extra period.<\/p>\n Woll\u00a0bounced back from a couple of difficult outings, making\u00a0key\u00a0power play saves, one on\u00a0J.D. Compher\u00a0and a huge stop on Alex\u00a0DeBrincat\u00a0in\u00a0the fourth period before Larkin\u2019s strike.<\/p>\n \u201cI love playing in front of Joe,\u201d said defenceman Brandon Carlo. \u201cWe\u2019re spoiled here in a way with good goalies (Woll, Dennis Hildeby, Anthony Stolarz) and being a defensive guy, I love communicating with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier Wednesday, Berube paid compliments to goalie coach Curtis Sanford, who has had five goalies in all pass through SBA so far this season. He has had to coax Woll back into shape after a month away for personal reasons, plus an injury deal with Stolarz\u2019s two-month absence and get Hildeby NHL-ready.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s excellent,\u201d Berube said of Sanford after a season and a half together. \u201cHe does a good job challenging them, Hildeby coming in as a young guy. We have to play better in front of them, but he expects excellence out of them to win us games.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a tough position from a mental standpoint,\u00a0a lot\u00a0of scrutiny on goalies. It can get to you. People expect a lot out of them, including us.\u201d<\/p>\n OEL IS MIA<\/p>\n Oliver Ekman-Larsson\u2019s ironman\u00a0streak\u00a0this season\u00a0might be in jeopardy after he\u00a0departed\u00a0in the first period on Wednesday, getting knocked to the ice by Detroit\u2019s Lucas Raymond.<\/p>\n Berube went to his standard comment of waiting for a morning evaluation of the lower body, though it\u2019s a day off so it might be Friday until anyone knows if Philippe Myers will come back in the lineup. Myers was bumped for Simon Benoit on Wednesday for a second straight game.<\/p>\n Brandon Carlo thought himself and the remaining blueliners circled the wagons quite well, Jake McCabe playing more than 28 minutes.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe had\u00a0short\u00a0shifts and\u00a0were\u00a0not making bad\u00a0decisions\u00a0and the forwards helped there for us to change,\u201d Carlo said.<\/p>\n \u201c(Ekman-Larsson)\u00a0means so much\u00a0to\u00a0us.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0raised\u00a0his game to a whole new level\u00a0with his playmaking ability, his calmness and he has an amazing stick.\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Tanev is still walking around the dressing room and training area, Berube saying no decision has been made yet on\u00a0season-ending\u00a0groin surgery as the\u00a036-year-old\u00a0keeps looking for a way to put it off and return at some point.<\/p>\n His long-term absence\u00a0would make any lengthy absence of Ekman-Larsson a larger hole, but as Benoit said after the game, the schedule is so compacted this\u00a0month,\u00a0players have no choice but to play through pain.<\/p>\n SHOOT! LAUGHTON MISSES PENALTY SHOT<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason Scott Laughton has been used in only four shootout attempts in his career. But the centre had a chance to rectify that when a strong penalty killing shift resulted in him being harassed on a breakaway and getting a penalty shot.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Unfortunately,\u00a0his slow approach\u00a0in on Detroit goalie\u00a0John Gibson and rapid\u00a0deke attempts at the end saw the puck roll off his stick.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve done that move\u00a0before.,\u00a0that\u2019s pretty much it,\u201d a disappointed Laughton said. \u201cI\u00a0could\u00a0probably shoot\u00a0it there, but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0easy to say once I watch it again. I should have faked a broken stick and let (Auston) Matthews go or something.\u201d<\/p>\n Laughton\u00a0did have the\u00a0Leafs\u2019\u00a0only goal,\u00a0assisted\u00a0by\u00a0his energy line wingers Steven Lorentz and Calle\u00a0Jarnkrok. They\u00a0opened\u00a0the game against Detroit\u2019s second line and the dangerous Patrick Kane. The\u00a0Leafs\u00a0denied Kane any points in his quest to get two\u00a0to\u00a0tie Mike Modano for most by an American-born NHLer (1,374).<\/p>\n Lhornby@postmedia.com<\/p>\n X:\u00a0@sunhornby<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Leafs expect ‘a lot of emotions’ in Marner’s return<\/p>\n![\"Dylan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0122otgoal-e1769057605244.jpg\")
Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates after scoring his game-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime on Jan. 21, 2026. Photo by Frank Gunn \/The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.4.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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