Where might the\u00a0Leafs\u00a0be in the playoff hunt had they reversed less than\u00a0half\u00a0of\u00a0their 14 overtime\/shootout defeats?<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 05, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 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 If anyone in the wide field of candidates intrigued by running the Maple Leafs wanted a peek at what they\u2019d inherit, Saturday night\u2019s conclusion of a four-game trip was an eye-opener.<\/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 Their 7-6 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings<\/a>, ending the trek at 1-2-1, was Toronto\u2019s mixed-signals season in a 62-minute, 33-second microcosm.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n ORDERING\u00a0ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOTS<\/p>\n The last puck Joseph Woll faced was the 40th of the game as the once-competent breakout Leafs continue to post the NHL\u2019s highest shots against per game of 32.4. In a dizzying span of 1:36, the Kings scored three, with Woll and his five compatriots hacking up what had been two very good road periods.<\/p>\n Feeding the shot clock were Saturday\u2019s 11 giveaways, charged to 11 different Leafs, including a cringer by Woll, which keeps them near the top of the NHL\u2019s highest gaffe list. Teams with enough strengths in other areas can compensate for such sloppiness, as four of the highest giveaway clubs are in playoff positions. But the Leafs, with a conference-worst goals against 5-on-5, aren\u2019t insulated.<\/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 They\u2019re also bottom 10 in shots for per game, a reflection of missing Auston Matthews<\/a>, but backing up their coach\u2019s contention that they over-pass when earning puck possession.<\/p>\n FAIL TO THE\u00a0CHIEF<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s stunning 30-point drop in the standings from last season has yet to see Craig Berube shown the door on Bay St.<\/p>\n While it\u2019s admirable that he and his team found ways to win a few games post-trade deadline with two centres and a first-line winger moved out, the same breakdowns and lineup decisions puzzle.<\/p>\n Just as he kept Easton Cowan in a limited role much of the season (the rookie is now one of Toronto\u2019s bright spots as a top-six winger) feisty Jacob Quillan should be seeing double figures in ice time. But he was in the stands Saturday as Berube went with Michael Pezzetta\u2019s muscle. Pezzetta had just seven shifts and 5:06 with the Leafs killing five penalties.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Though Berube barks\u00a0a lot at\u00a0mistakes\u00a0made in practice\u00a0and urged his team to get\u00a0their hearts and heads into\u00a0playing for pride and each other,\u00a0it\u00a0was too little too late.<\/p>\n Teams that did fire coaches, L.A., Columbus,\u00a0Vegas\u00a0and remarkably the Islanders, who replaced Patrick Roy with Peter DeBoer on Sunday,\u00a0remain\u00a0at or near\u00a0playoff\u00a0status heading into the\u00a0final\u00a010 days\u00a0of the season.<\/p>\n Berube\u00a0survives for now after\u00a0Brad Treliving was\u00a0purged<\/a>\u00a0first,\u00a0but\u00a0unless\u00a0his old St. Louis GM, Doug Armstrong, is\u00a0in the picture next year, Berube will\u00a0likely\u00a0move\u00a0aside for\u00a0whomever\u00a0becomes\u00a0the\u00a023rd\u00a0Toronto coach\u00a0since Punch\u00a0Imlach\u00a0last won a Stanely Cup.<\/p>\n NET RESULTS<\/p>\n The Western trip as a\u00a0whole\u00a0saw Anthony Stolarz\u00a0retain a slight edge\u00a0as\u00a0Toronto\u2019s\u00a0go-to\u00a0goaltender.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Woll\u00a0had been\u00a0amply rewarded with key starts even after Stolarz came back from an upper body injury,\u00a0but his\u00a0record is\u00a02-7-2 since the Olympic break with an .898 save percentage\u00a0in March.\u00a0That was partly\u00a0due\u00a0to some atrocious\u00a0team\u00a0defence\u00a0and low run support, but\u00a0the\u00a0vocal\u00a0Stolarz\u00a0is playing well and\u00a0asserting himself against\u00a0invasive forwards.<\/p>\n Starting next year with both goalies healthy\u00a0will\u00a0help the new\u00a0folks\u00a0in charge, while\u00a0the depth that Dennis\u00a0Hildeby\u00a0and Artur\u00a0Akhtyamov\u00a0provide could see one of the\u00a0quartet\u00a0traded\u00a0for positional help elsewhere.<\/p>\n MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH<\/p>\n Where might the\u00a0Leafs\u00a0be in the playoff hunt had they reversed less than\u00a0half\u00a0of\u00a0their 14 overtime\/shootout defeats?<\/p>\n Leading scorer and breakaway specialist William Nylander flubbed the game winner on Saturday\u00a0against\u00a0a\u00a0team that\u00a0has lost more in extra time than any other\u00a0in a single season. So many more \u2018what-ifs\u2019\u00a0preceded\u00a0one extra-time win since Jan. 17.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s\u00a0Leafs\u00a0lost\u00a0only\u00a0four OT decisions,\u00a0their\u00a0fewest in more\u00a0than 20 years.<\/p>\n FATHERS AND SONS<\/p>\n Watching the\u00a0mojo\u00a0build\u00a0between\u00a0Cowan and John Tavares\u00a0on Saturday is\u00a0encouraging for\u00a0both extremes of the Leaf\u00a0age\u00a0demographic.<\/p>\n Cowan has risen from\u00a0the\u00a0roster\u00a0fringe in\u00a0October\u00a0to\u00a0top-line\u00a0minutes, by being a sponge around veteran\u00a0centres\u00a0Scott Laughton,\u00a0Nicolas Roy\u00a0and now Tavares. The\u00a0former duo\u2019s\u00a0departure\u00a0and Matthews\u2019 surgery\u00a0has\u00a0elevated Cowan to\u00a0tier one with Tavares and\u00a0Nylander,\u00a0Cowan joining a rare group of Leaf drafted\u00a0rookies,\u00a0post Core Four,\u00a0to reach 10 goals\u00a0in a season.<\/p>\n At 35,\u00a0Tavares just keeps on\u00a0truckin\u2019<\/a>,\u00a0reaching\u00a030 goals for the eighth time\u00a0in\u00a0his career in\u00a0L.A.,\u00a0nearing\u00a0the top 100 games played in NHL history.\u00a0He\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0cap friendly\u00a0$4.389\u00a0million\u00a0US\u00a0the next couple of years\u00a0for a team Pelley\u00a0indicates\u00a0will re-tool, not rebuild.<\/p>\n DO THE MATT<\/p>\n Shunning talk he should shut it down after a slow-healing mid-season injury and the team\u2019s fall from\u00a0playoffs,\u00a0winger\u00a0Matthew Knies is finishing strong physically and\u00a0statistically. Two goals Saturday\u00a0brought\u00a0him to\u00a0six\u00a0points\u00a0his last six\u00a0outings. In four fewer appearances this term, he has\u00a0bettered his output\u00a0to\u00a064\u00a0points in 74,\u00a0which\u00a0should take him out of further trade speculation\u00a0for his next superior.<\/p>\n![\"Maple](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/CP176094558.jpg\")
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Troy Stecher, right, trips over goaltender Joseph Woll during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. Photo by Mark J. Terrill \/THE ASSOCIATED PRESSArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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